Steve Watt had no complaints after Hythe’s narrow defeat by Isthmian South East leaders Ramsgate on Boxing Day.

The Cannons lost 1-0 at home, with keeper Steve Phillips caught out by a Jack Paxman shot five minutes before half-time.

“We lost to the better team,” said boss Watt. “It was a tight affair but they created the better chances and deserved to win.

“I can’t sit here and say we shouldn’t have lost the game.

“I just thought they were the better side and they dealt with the conditions better than we did.

“The goal is a mistake by our keeper, which is unlike him because he’s been excellent for us, but they had other good chances where they could have won it.

“We’ve had one blocked on the line at 0-0, a second phase from a set-piece, but there’s no complaints from me.

“We gave a good account of ourselves but we didn’t do enough to win the game.

“It looked like two well-organised teams but they had that little bit more experience and quality in certain areas and that saw them over the line.

“I said to the players before the game whoever makes the least mistakes will win the game, and so it proved.

“It’s a shot from distance, our keeper’s unsighted by the sun and it’s taken an awkward bounce and gone in.

“I’m certainly not blaming Steve Phillips because he’s been fantastic for us.

“We need to start falling on the right side of some of these tight games. You tend to see them go the way of the bigger sides with more resources, and it’s normally just that bit of quality in the right areas.”

Hythe visit bottom side Faversham on Monday (3pm) with the Lilywhites continuing to strengthen their squad.

Former Cheltenham winger Alex Addai is their latest signing, joining from Sittingbourne.

“It’s not an easy league,” said Watt, whose side were 15th after the Ramsgate game.

“This is the hardest I’ve found it. Everyone can beat everyone and this league is a true reflection of that, when you see how tight it is.

“Faversham will be a very tough game. Sammy Moore (new boss) has had success at these levels and above and he’s putting together a good side.

“But we’re not exactly easy to play against ourselves. We don’t concede many goals. We pride ourselves on being difficult to beat.”