Hythe’s sights are firmly set on attempting to end Cray Valley’s unbeaten record.

The sides meet at Reachfields this Saturday (3pm), with the Millers enjoying a magnificent season under Steve McKimm.

They’re up to second in Isthmian South East, still with games in hand on all the sides in the top five, following their FA Cup exploits.

Hythe are also having another season to remember, firmly in play-off contention and through to the last 32 of the FA Trophy.

The Cannons love a challenge and they’re sure to get one against Cray Valley.

“Steve’s done a great job there, obviously with the FA Cup run and how well they’re doing in the league,” said Hythe manager Steve Watt.

“It’ll be a really tough game but everyone’s got to lose some time and that’s got to be our goal on Saturday - to be that first team to beat them.

“They’re unbeaten for a reason and in those games they’ve been down to 10 men, they’ve won games late, they’ve come back, so they haven’t just been steamrollering teams, they’ve won games in loads of different ways.

“We’ve got to be on it and our goal has got to be that first team to beat them.”

Hythe blew a two-goal lead at home to Sheppey on New Year’s Day.

Lex Allan and Jake Embery scored against their old club but Sheppey hit back for a point.

Watt was unimpressed with the performance.

“You expect to win the game at 2-0 up but we just weren’t ourselves,” said Watt, who saw Saturday’s match at East Grinstead postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

“We had the better chances but they were the better team.

“Their keeper’s made two saves of the season and on another day we score five yet we’ve played poorly.

“We had enough chances to win but I couldn’t have said we deserved it.

“Even at half-time it wasn’t pats on the back for being 2-0 up because I couldn’t see a Hythe Town performance.

“We looked a bit lethargic. It was like we’d played on Saturday and not them. They had an extra spring in their step.

“Credit to Sheppey for getting back into it and taking their two chances but we had more than enough in the second half to score three or four.

“They had a couple of opportunities but nothing as clear-cut as us and you’ve got to take those when you’re playing teams that are in and around you.

“You’ve got to be clinical and we weren’t. We scored two good goals but the chances we missed were easier than the goals we scored.”

Hythe completed 2023 with a terrific win ratio of 67% for the calendar year.

They played 49 games, with 33 wins, 12 defeats and four draws. The stats include penalty shoot-outs, won and lost.

The Cannons scored 85 goals and conceded 42.

“I went through the stats myself,” said Watt. “I never do it normally but I wanted the boys to see it and be proud of what they’ve done. It’s a great effort.”