Manager James Rogers has described Hythe’s Kent derby at Sittingbourne as a massive game for the club.

The Cannons are in danger of being sucked into a relegation dogfight in Isthmian South East after eight games without a win.

They travel to Sittingbourne this Saturday only four points clear of the bottom two and desperate for the points.

“We’re starting to get into a position where we’re scrapping to stay in this league,” said player-boss Rogers after their 4-2 home defeat by Cray Valley at the weekend.

“We’ve got players who are too good to be in that position but we need to start winning some games.

“There’s a few teams down the bottom on good runs but they’ll have their moments again where they have a few losses in a row and we’ve got to be on our game to take advantage.

“We’ve got Sittingbourne on Saturday which I believe is a massive, massive game for Hythe Town and we need to get a result.”

While Hythe need the points against a Brickies team still harbouring play-off ambitions, there’s no need for the players to feel any added pressure.

“We’ve got experienced players who are used to big games and the young players we’ve got, we want them to enjoy their football," said Rogers.

“If you’re enjoying it, especially the players in forward areas, you’re going to play your best football and you’re going to create more.

“We’ve got a lot of good young players in forward areas who can cause problems, Luca Woodhouse, Jack Nelson, Tyler Sterling, Jordan Sarfo, Riley Alford and we’re going to bleed Tom Walmsley back in."

Player-assistant boss Tom Wynter is due for a scan on his knee after breaking down in his comeback match, the 5-1 Velocity Trophy win over South Park, last Tuesday.

That’s a blow for Rogers, who was looking forward to having Wynter’s experience back in defence.

“That might be his season done,” said Rogers.

“The scan will tell us more but even if he did get himself in a position to play again before the end of the season, you risk it happening again if he comes back too soon.”

Goals from Sterling and Jacob Gilbert saw Hythe twice draw level against promotion-chasing Cray Valley but the Cannons had defender Scott Doe sent off for dissent after going 3-2 down and conceded a late fourth.

Rogers said: “I was happy to get in 2-2 at half-time but we came out in the second half and took the game to them.

“I thought we were looking the more likely to go on and win the game but we end up coming away with nothing, which is frustrating after all the work the boys put in. They were gutted.

“We’ve been scoring quite a lot, and our shape’s fine, it’s just silly errors that are costing us, and I include myself in that because I lost the ball on the edge of the box, leading to their second goal.

“If we were bad and were losing every game I could take it but we’re in games and having the better of games. That’s football - the tide will turn.”