Hythe boss Sam Denly was left bemoaning his side’s defending on Saturday.

The Cannons were denied a Bostik South play-off place after Corinthian Casuals snatched a 1-1 draw at Reachfields.

It was tough on Hythe who were the better side on the day and looked destined to extend their season for a further week.

“We were there,” said Denly. “Our keeper hasn’t had a shot to save all game and we gifted them a goal.

“It was one of the sloppiest goals we’ve conceded, certainly since I’ve been here and I’d imagine all season.

“We’ve just given them a goal and that’s criminal, the boys are gutted. To be so good and consistent over 15 games and then give a goal like that away which has cost us our place in the play-offs is a very hard one to take.”

Hythe were in and out of the play-off places during the afternoon as neighbours Ashford levelled in the second half against Walton Casuals.

But Denly admitted he always thought Walton would get the win they need to seal a top-six finish.

“We knew the scenario but I knew we had to win anyway, I thought Walton would win and they did comfortably in the end,” added Denly.

“We always had to win and we knew that. At 1-0 with five minutes to go you can’t rest on your laurels – and we didn’t – but it was a soft free-kick and we didn’t defend it well. Poor defending has cost us.

“We were in control of the game, we were the better side in the second half and Will didn’t have a shot to save. In some ways it’s probably more frustrating because if they’d come here and played us off the park then you’d hold your hands up.

“But we’ve been the better side again and just had one lapse of concentration cost us.

“It was a massively cagey first half. We said before the game that we didn’t want it to be, but it was always likely as there was a big crowd and both teams knew what they were playing for.

“At 0-0, we were in the game and we took the game to them in the second half. We got our goal at a good time and we looked comfortable.

“They’re a good side and I’m sure they’ll do well in the play-offs but no-one would have argued if we’d won that game 1-0 and maybe on another day we would have done.”