Nick Davis says Hythe have to start making their own luck as they battle to stay in Isthmian South East.

The Cannons have lost their past five matches and saw skipper Lex Allan suffer an ankle injury in their 3-1 defeat at Sheppey on New Year’s Day.

He could be out for up to six weeks, with boss Davis looking for a replacement before Saturday’s trip to a Merstham side who have lost only once at home this season.

The Cannons are second-bottom, four points from safety, but they have a game in hand after last weekend’s home match against Broadbridge Heath was postponed.

Staying up is the name of the game.

“Hopefully our luck starts to change but you’ve got to make your own luck,” said Davis.

“It’s not going for us at the minute but we still believe we can get out of it.

“We still believe we’ve got good people in that changing room.

“Probably a lot of other people doubt us but it doesn’t really matter what other people think.

“If we can get out of it, it’ll be an absolutely fantastic achievement.

“It’s a long old season. We’ve got 19 games to go and 10 of those are at home, so it’s all to play for.

“We’re going to do everything we can to keep this team in the league.”

Hythe could have done without losing captain Allan.

The centre-half is a key man for the Cannons.

“He rolled his ankle against Sheppey on New Year’s Day,” said Davis. “He could be out for six weeks.

“It’s a massive blow but that’s just how it’s gone for us.

“He’s cleared the ball and then hit the deck.

“He’s shrugged it off and carried on and that’s probably made it worse.

“Ankles are a funny one. Sometimes you can go over on it and carry on without knowing the full extent until you take your boot off and see the swelling.

“We need a couple in. We’re a bit thin on the ground at the minute. We’ve just got to keep plugging away.

“We’re doing everything we can to get someone in. I’ve been on the phone for five days solid.

“We’ve still got a decent XI and hopefully things start to turn.”

The game at fellow strugglers Phoenix was the most frustrating of Hythe’s Christmas and New Year defeats.

They took an early lead through Javaun Splatt but lost 2-1.

Davis also felt they should have got something at Sheppey, where Vance Bola’s late penalty was all they had to show for their efforts.

“We should have been out of sight in the first half at Phoenix,” said Davis.

“We didn’t take our chances and we’ve ended up losing.

“I don’t think our keeper’s had a save to make other than picking the ball out of the net twice.

“We’ve hit the woodwork as well and we missed an open goal to get a point.

“We should have got something against Sheppey, too.

“It’s frustrating but we’ve got to keep going.”