Hythe Town boss Steve Watt hailed Frannie Collin’s quality after the striker claimed his 300th career goal on Saturday.

The 32-year-old former Maidstone man has endured his share of injury problems this season but the goal against Bay was his third in as many matches, prompting his manager to pay tribute.

Watt said: “It’s not just the goals, Frannie has got assists on top of that. He’s firing on all cylinders at the moment.

“He’s had a bit of a disrupted season, what with the changes that were being made and a couple of injury setbacks, I felt for him.

“He had problems with the same calf twice, and when it happened the second time we took a little bit more time to get it right.

“For him to get to 300 goals is a great landmark but then he’s always been a quality player. I knew with the right players around him he would score and create goals and that’s being proved.”

Town’s 1-1 draw with Bay continued their good run in Isthmian South East but Watt felt they deserved more at Reachfields.

Bay’s opener – an Alex Flisher own goal – came about after home keeper Will Godmon had gone to ground, with Watt adamant he had been pole-axed by Bola Dawodu.

He added: “They were always a threat going forward but overall I felt we were the better side and if I’m honest the referee has cost us.

“Will’s been completely taken out and was lying on the floor with the Herne Bay player on top of him (when they scored).

“I thought it was a clear foul. The ref said afterwards that he couldn’t give what he couldn’t see but I don’t know how he did not see that.”

Hythe are 12th but with the play-offs still not yet out of reach and Watt admits the rest of the month will probably determine whether they can sustain a challenge for the top five.

The Cannons, who drew 0-0 at Sevenoaks on Tuesday, travel to VCD on Saturday and also face Guernsey (home), Chichester (away) and leaders Hastings (home) before February is out.

Watt: “This is a big month but then I think a lot of the teams in and around the play-offs will be thinking that.”

Midfielder Alex Brown returned to the squad against Herne Bay after his broken toe but Kaka Dembele and Stephen Okoh remain sidelined by hamstring injuries.

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