Hythe boss Clive Cook admits there were as many negatives as positives from the opening game of pre-season.

Town went down 4-1 at well-drilled Folkestone on Sunday and Cook said: “It was some minutes on the board. There were pluses and minuses and question marks but there always are in pre-season.

“It was early to be playing. They started back a week before us and it showed but that was fitness mainly.

“That will come. Bar a couple, the lads all got 45 minutes and pre-season is the time to get these things right.

“If we lose every pre-season game but win the first league game I’d be more than happy. My concern was that some of the attitudes were not quite right.

“I let them know about it afterwards because it’s important to set the standards now.”

Town introduced former Faversham keeper Will Godmon from the bench and Cook added: “I’ve spoken to him, we’re on the same wavelength.

“He left there seeking to play at a higher level and he still wants to. He wants somewhere to train and some minutes. We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.

“I’ve got a good keeper in Joe Mant who has done nothing wrong, he’s a good lad with a few years of experience behind him now. I’ve got competition for every position and this gives him the sort of competition he probably didn’t have last year.”

Cook said he was ‘not finished yet’ in the transfer market and was hoping to tie-up two new additions ahead of Saturday’s visit of Tilbury of Bostik North to Reachfields (3pm). The Cannons also visit Sheppey United on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

Town have been handed a tough trip to league rivals Corinthian Casuals in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday, August 19, and were drawn away at Bedfordshire County League side Kempston Rovers in the FA Trophy preliminary round on Saturday, October 7.