The fight goes on for Hythe Town following their 1-0 defeat at Isthmian South East play-off rivals Ashford.

They’re seven points off the top five, in ninth place, after Gary Lockyer’s 76th-minute goal settled Saturday’s game.

But there’s still six games to go and the Cannons have already shown they are capable of stringing wins together.

“It makes it very difficult for us to make the play-offs after losing that game but it doesn’t determine our season,” said Hythe boss Steve Watt.

“We’ve rattled off five wins on the bounce before and we’re capable of doing it again.

“I say five wins, one, because we’ve done it before and, two, because if we did that and got to 64 points we’d be very unlucky not to make the play-offs.”

Watt felt his side were unfortunate to lose to Ashford.

They had chances to lead but switched off from Rhyle Ovenden’s cross and Lockyer pounced.

“It was a close game,” said Watt. “I thought we were unlucky.

“We had the better chances - we’ve had a couple of one-on-ones and we hit the bar - but neither keeper had a great deal to do.

“I was pleased with how we played but disappointed in how we lost the game.

“It’s a well-worked set-piece but we’ve switched off and if you do that against good sides like Ashford you’ll get punished.

“You could tell it was two sides who didn’t want to lose. It wasn’t an open game by any stretch.

“I thought it was going to be a draw but fine margins decide big games and credit to Ashford.

“Did we deserve to win the game? Possibly not, although on chances you could argue we did.

“I don’t think we did enough to win but I don’t think we deserved to lose. A draw would have been fair but that game summarises our season.

“We’re meant to go to Ashford and lose. It’s not a shock to anyone.

“We’re little old Hythe, the little neighbours who’ve made a bit of noise this season, but we’re still expected to lose.

"There’s no shame in losing to Ashford at all.

“The disappointment is that it's yet another game we’ve lost where we’ve come off scratching our heads saying how have we not come away with something?”

Hythe visit Sevenoaks, the side immediately above them, this Saturday (3pm).

The teams drew 0-0 at Reachfields in August.

“The last time we played them they said we were a banana skin,” said Watt.

“I don’t know what they’d say we were now. Maybe they still think that’s all we are.

“Sevenoaks are a very good side and it will be a very tough game.

"We’ll look at how we can get something from the game and try to come away with a positive result.”