Steve Watt says he is ready to sacrifice quality for character after describing Hythe’s defeat at Three Bridges as the worst he’s been involved in.

The Cannons went down 4-1 on Saturday after conceding three first-half goals in a game manager Watt had described beforehand as must-win.

Town are now without a victory in six Isthmian South East matches, and Watt says some of his players could be on their last chance.

Watt, whose side remain 16th, said: “It was a performance and a result no one saw coming and I’d go as far to say it was the worst performance I’ve been part of. It was a schoolboy performance, we gave them three goals and I mean gave them.

“The feeling around the club was that we’d turned the corner (after draws with Whyteleafe and leaders Cray Valley), but we just did not do anything right.

“I was not best pleased but I did not take the paint off the walls, what was the point?

“Some home truths were said at half-time and after the game.

“I think our team expected to just turn up and win which was unacceptable.”

Most disappointing for Watt was the way his side capitulated, given how much had been at stake.

Three Bridges had started the day next-to-bottom with just two wins from 13 matches.

Watt explained: “I’d told the players it was a must-win game. They were under no illusions about how important the game was to us and then they go out and produce that sort of performance.

“We looked like we’d never played together and maybe I need to make changes, maybe I need to sacrifice quality for good old fashioned hard work and a bit of character.

“I’ve got some good players but I’m not sure the defeat hurt all of them as much as it should have done.

“I try to look after my players and do the best for them to get the best from them in return but I’ve got some decisions to make and there will be no loyalty or friendship I’ve got to do what I think is best for the club.”

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Watt concedes he will have to move players on before he can bring players in and he was hit by another injury blow on Saturday when young full-back Danny Divine suffered a serious knee injury.

Watt explained: “He’ll need to have a scan but the initial

feeling is that it doesn’t sound good.”

Hythe host Ashford at Reachfields on Saturday and Watt hopes the match will bring the best out of his squad.

He added: “The frustrating thing for me is that when we’ve played the better sides, we’ve produced some of our best performances so I’m sure they will be ready and up for this game.”