Manager Steve Watt has stressed the importance of the FA Cup as Hythe look to build on a dream start to the new season.

The Cannons launched their Isthmian South East campaign on Saturday with a 4-0 home win over East Grinstead.

Aaron Barnes marked his debut with a goal inside two minutes, with Ethan Smith, Liam Smith and Brad Schafer also on target as last season’s play-off finalists returned with a bang.

The sides meet again tomorrow (3pm), this time in the FA Cup, with Hythe on the road for the Preliminary Round tie.

There’s £1,444 in prize money up for grabs and Hythe could do with the cash.

“The FA Cup is big for this club because of the financial rewards from each round,” said Watt.

“We can’t take anything lightly - we need to win that game.

“It’s as important as a game to get promoted.

“If you win two or three rounds in the FA Cup and the money is invested back into the squad, it gives you another £100-150 a week for a player, which is big for a team like us.

“We’ve very much got to try our best to get through that and win these games to help the club.

“The club’s been great to us and great to me since I’ve been here and we’ve got to help them out by winning these types of games that can help the financial burden.”

Hythe impressed against East Grinstead in the league game but Watt has warned against complacency in the cup.

“They had their chances - they’re not a bad side - but we scored at key moments,” he said.

“The early goal helped and in the end I think our intensity and our work rate and being clinical at crucial moments settled it.

“Our front three or front five caused all kinds of problems - to see them pressing and hounding from minute one to minute 90 was great to see.

“We stopped them playing and forced mistakes that we capitalised on.

“It was nice to pick up where we left off last year, looking solid, organised and having that cutting edge, but that means nothing going into the FA Cup game.

“Yes, well done, have your pat on the back, but that’s done now. I don’t care about that now.

“The result didn’t flatter us, not by any stretch, but East Grinstead caused us problems, they still had opportunities and I think they’ll be more confident at home.

“Last week’s result will have no bearing on this week. If anything, it only makes it harder.

“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past.”