Scott Porter concedes Lydd’s squad only have themselves to blame for not making the play-offs this season.

Their faint hopes of a top-five Southern Counties East Premier Division finish were ended with a 3-1 defeat at champions Deal last weekend.

The Lydders have been more than competitive in their first campaign at the level.

But, with the amount of players with higher-division experience they have within their ranks, Porter would have been eyeing Isthmian League promotion when he took over from James Rogers this January as the vastly-experienced midfielder focused on playing duties.

Boss Porter said: “I couldn’t change too much. That wouldn’t have been fair.

“The play-offs were there - but it’s our own fault for not making them.

“It’s as simple as that because we have given leads away, we haven’t been ruthless in front of goal to finish teams off and we’re making mistakes.

“You aren’t going to win every single game like that because you’re giving teams chances. That’s been our downfall.”

Trailing to an early goal at Deal, the Lydders conceded a bizarre own goal off defender Jahmahl King’s head inside 10 seconds of the second half and never really recovered.

They did get a stoppage-time consolation from substitute Jack Shonk, however, while Kane Penn also caught the eye.

“Kane’s a great player, he can play anywhere and he was a major plus on Saturday,” said Porter, who started Penn at left-back before moving him into midfield in the second half.

“But I said to the boys that they had got to be nine out of 10 or 10 out of 10 to win this game - and we were way below that.”

A top-six finish could still be in Lydd’s sights, though, ahead of Saturday’s home game against play-off occupants Glebe and a season-ending trip to VCD.

Porter stated: “We have just got to get them done and move on.

“Hopefully, we can play Saturday without making a mistake because we need to win the last two to finish as high as we can.”

Those matches will be followed by a busy summer as Porter continues to put his own stamp on the squad.

“Pre-season will be hard,” revealed Porter. “It’s been a bit of an up and down season regarding that (fitness) and organisation.

“Pre-season will be organised properly, it will be hard, and they will be fit. We will be well-organised and well-drilled.

“There will be a lot of comings and goings.”