Clive Cook Insists Hythe will be looking to make a statement when they return to league action on Wednesday after Saturday’s dramatic FA Cup exit.

The Town boss claimed his players were relishing the Ryman League, Division 1 South trip to face Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane (7.45pm) following Saturday’s 4-2 home defeat to Walton Casuals, in which Hythe led with three minutes to go.

He said: “I’m hoping there is no hangover from Saturday and, knowing the boys, I don’t think there will be. They are raring to go and hopefully we can go out there and deliver a response.”

Town have three games in six days, with Saturday’s visit of East Grinstead to Reachfields (3pm) and the derby with Herne Bay at home on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

Cook said: “We need to be better in front of goal. We need to be ruthless. We have missed an abundance of chances lately.

“We have three games coming up to bounce back. It’d be nice to score some goals but I’d take any kind of win first. They will all be tough.

“Hopefully, we can put some good results together and get an unbeaten run in the league going and make a statement.

“The table is crazy at the moment, it’s early days but one win can get you right up there.”

Cook claimed Hythe ‘beat themselves’ as they allowed a late 2-1 lead to slip to defeat against Casuals, who were handed a trip to Hereford side Westfields of the Midland League Premier Division – a tier below the Cannons – in the third qualifying round.

He said: “We beat ourselves. We didn’t see the game out. We weren’t professional. We let our hearts rule our heads and got excited. I can’t understand what happened, it all happened so quickly.

He added: “I can’t fault the display, apart from the last few minutes, or the
endeavour. We had numerous opportunities to win but that’s football.”