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Hythe boss Steve Watt faces a selection headache this weekend – but for once he admits it’s the kind which is nice to have.
Injuries have disrupted Watt’s plans since he succeeded Sam Denly at Reachfields in September, but things are finally starting to come together.
Club captain Charlie Webster was fit enough after his long-term ankle injury to sit on the bench for Saturday’s excellent 3-0 home win over VCD, while the arrivals of Danny Walder, Nathan Gordon and Sam Blackman have given the squad a much stronger look.
Walder, 30, and 24-year-old Blackman both marked their debuts with goals and Watt said the win was no more than the Cannons deserved.
Watt, who added former Dartford and Margate defender Tom Wynter to his squad on Wednesday, said: “I’ve only had what I would consider my full strength team out once this season, but I thought the squad looked really strong on Saturday.
“The three new players all settled in really quickly and it was nice to be in a position where we could replace players with like for like off the bench.
“Alex Brown (who replaced Blackman) gave us another spark when he came on and Tom Walmsley (who came on for Stephen Okoh) did the same.
“He was unlucky not to start after the previous week but I pulled him and told him I felt he could make an impact from the bench – and he did.
“If I’m being picky we probably could have had another couple of goals.
“It’s given us something to build on and we now have good competition. It’s a nice headache to have for a change.”
Midfielder Walder has signed from Ashford, with left-back Gordon joining from Sevenoaks. Midfielder Blackman is on a month’s loan from National League South Dartford.
Watt knows the latter well, having had him as a player at Margate.
He explained: “Sam broke his leg during pre-season but I knew he was nearing fitness so I sent Kingy (Darts manager Steve King) a text and I can’t thank Dartford enough for their help.
“There were other clubs interested in Sam, but he’s been out for so long I think he wanted to go somewhere he knew and trusted people.
“Danny is someone I tried to sign when I was at Hastings. He’s a player I’ve always admired and his set-piece delivery is second to none
“We were on the receiving end when we played Ashford in the Velocity Trophy and VCD were on the receiving end on Saturday.
“He just knows the game. We sat him next to Rogo (James Rogers) and they just looked so solid.”
Watt signed Gordon, 27, on the strength of his performance against Town for Sevenoaks earlier in the season and was not disappointed.
He added: “Nathan’s really athletic, comfortable in possession and a good defender. He just ticked all the boxes for me and on Saturday I thought he excellent, the whole side were.”
Town, unbeaten in two, remain 17th in Isthmian South East and on Saturday travel to Ramsgate, one place and five points behind them with just two wins from 16 matches.
Watt said: “I think they are a bit like us in that people are scratching their heads wondering why they are so near the bottom.
“But we know they’re a good side and in this league if you don’t go in with the right attitude and the right frame of mind you’ll get beaten."
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