Hythe Town boss Clive Cook believes his other strikers will step up now that Alfie May has joined Doncaster Rovers
Published: 00:00, 05 January 2017
Hythe Town boss Clive Cook says the Cannons have the firepower to carry on their Ryman League Division 1 South promotion push without Alfie May – they just need to improve at home.
Cook, who saw prolific marksman May join League 2 Doncaster Rovers last week, said: “I have lost a good striker but we have already got his goals in our squad.
“We have Dean Grant, Jay May and Frankie Sawyer reacted well after being left out and has been a star – when he hits form he is fantastic.”
Sawyer netted in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw against Faversham which Cook claimed was ‘two points dropped,’ adding: “We dominated the game for 89 minutes but one ridiculous lapse in concentration and a scrappy goal cost us. It was disappointing and felt like a loss.”
Cook was, however, more upbeat after the 1-0 win against Ramsgate on Monday – secured by another Sawyer strike.
He said: “It was a bit of a slog and we had to work hard but the win was all that mattered.”
The points took Town fourth, eight points off the top and Cook said: “We have 20 games to go and there will be plenty of twists and turns.
“We stayed in the pack even though we had a bad run in November and that was essential.”
Town visit Whyteleafe on Saturday (3pm) before hosting high-flying Tooting & Mitcham on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Hythe have taken 33 points from 14 games on the road but just 19 from 12 at Reachfields and Cook said: “What I’d like is to turn our away form into our home form. It’s been dogging us a bit.
“Away our record is immense, we do line up differently and play with no pressure. Hopefully, we can replicate that at home.”
Ryan Johnson is banned at Leafe after his red card for two bookings from the same incident against Faversham, something which Cook did not wish to comment on.
Hythe assistant manager and coach Will Graham has had to step down due to work commitments with Mark Lane resuming the role in addition to his duties as goalkeeping coach while former Chatham manager Darren Anslow is back at Reachfields as a coach.
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Alex Hoad