Steve Watt is hoping Hythe’s performance in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Sittingbourne is a one-off.

The Town boss described his side’s display as easily the worst since he succeeded Sam Denly at Reachfields last month.

The defeat was their first in three Isthmian South East matches and Watt admits he had not seen it coming.

He explained: “Saturday was very poor, I thought it was the worst performance by us since I’ve been here.

“The game itself was a poor spectacle, there was a lack of quality from both sides, but we were worse than them.

“I said to the boys at half-time it would be a mistake or a set piece which wins the game and unfortunately it was a mistake by us at a throw-in in the final third.

“We threw it in, lost possession and they countered down our left hand side. It was a good finish and probably the only bit of quality in the whole game.

“I don’t know where the performance came from but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt at the moment.

“We’d had two good wins in the league (2-0 against Herne Bay and Haywards Heath) and even in the defeat against Hastings (2-1 in the FA Trophy) we played well.

“I’m hoping it’s just a one-off because if it isn’t I’ll have to think about making changes.”

Watt admitted the players were told in no uncertain terms that the performance was not good enough, but he did point to the absence of injured trio Charlie Webster (ankle), Alex Flisher (groin) and Stephen Okoh (cut heel).

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He added: “I think any side at our level missing three players of that calibre is going to be affected.

“We’re not talking squad players we’re talking about potential starters in a squad of 16.”

Watt said that Saturday’s result had led him to re-consider whether to rest some players for the home Velocity Trophy game against Ramsgate on Tuesday.

The Cannons then host Chichester in the league on Saturday before making the short trip to Folkestone for a Kent Senior Cup first round tie next Tuesday (October 29).

Watt explained: “Chichester is going to be a tough game on Saturday. They’ve won three out of three away from home but we know that when we play the way we’re capable of we’re a match for anyone in this league.

“We just need to start doing it more consistently.”

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