We're going into the lions den and we'll bring back the fruit, says Hythe Town boss Clive Cook

HYTHE TOWN manager Clive Cook says he’s feeling confident that his side can deliver the goods and join champions Folkestone Invicta in the Ryman Premier League next season.

The Cannons were struggling in the bottom three on four points after ten league games when Tim Dixon was in charge but along with Mark Lane and Tony Beckingham (who was joint-manager alongside Cook for six games) the club have turned around their fortunes.

Hythe Town completed their 46-match league campaign in fourth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, collecting 87 points, winning 27, drawing six and losing 13.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.  Forty-six games are done, took it on ten when we were 22^nd, finished on fourth with 87, over the moon with that, very good season,” said Cook.

“Any other time I would say I’d live with that but I’m not saying that because we could be the promoted side now if we had taken it on from the word go because I’m pretty sure Folkestone wouldn’t have won that title if we had it from the word go!

“But it’s done, we move on and we go into tomorrow’s game, albeit away from home but very confident of getting a result for Kent and Hythe Town.”

Cook takes his side to Worthing on Tuesday night in the Ryman League Division One South play-off semi-finals.

Folkestone Invicta claimed the league title on 114 points from 46 games.

Dorking Wanderers celebrated their highest ever league finish as runners-up on 90 points.

Worthing finished third on 88 points, a point more than Hythe Town, while Faversham Town grabbed fifth-place with a 4-0 home win over Hythe Town on Saturday.

Ray Turner’s side were in seventh-place on Thursday night behind Corinthian-Casuals and Hastings United, but Corinthian-Casuals were deducted three points on Friday for playing an ineligible player against Faversham in January.

Hastings United were in the driving seat going into Saturday’s final games but they suffered a vital 2-1 home defeat to Herne Bay, while Faversham snatched it.

Luke Harvey, 30 today, scored twice, Charley Robertson netted a penalty, before Josh Stanford wrapped up the victory, to leave Cook shell-shocked.

“That’s the one I’d like to start with,” said Cook.

“Very disappointed in how we performed, absolutely didn’t see it coming but I could say I could because the boys had the mind-set that it was already done. It was a free game and they were already in the play-offs.  But it’s not my way of thinking but that’s the way it panned out in the end.

“Not taking too much into Saturday, it’s done, it’s over. I’ve had the weekend to peruse over it, get the hump over it and I’ve come into today with more of an aggressive attitude.

“Our mind-set was awful on Saturday. Corinthian-Casuals, what happened to them, which I feel sorry for them, it gave Faversham another two gears to go and win the game.  I think if they’d gone into that game going into the position they were before Corinthian-Casuals’ points deduction they would have been another Faversham Town.

“They had to rely on Corinthian-Casuals (who beat Three Bridges 1-0 at home) and Hastings losing. Hastings bottled it because they’re the ones on paper that should’ve gone through.”

Worthing defeated Hythe Town 2-0 on their artificial pitch on Tuesday 15 December, while Hythe Town won 3-0 at Reachfields on Saturday 6 February.

“I’d rather have played it at Reachfields at home but it’s not,” said Cook.

“They play their pitch very well. We know what to expect and we know what how they’re going to set out and do. If we know that there’s no excuse that we can’t combat that and we will combat that.

“It will be a very good game, I think it’s going to be a close game.

“The boys have responded massively yesterday and this morning and we’re meeting early tomorrow and getting down there early and we’ll suck it in.

“We’re going into the lion’s den and we’ll bring back the, what do they call it? The fruit - as long as we adhere to the game plan.”

But play-off games are a lottery and only one of four clubs can celebrate promotion into the Ryman Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

If runners-up Dorking Wanderers beat Faversham Town on Tuesday night, then they will have home advantage over Worthing or Hythe Town as they finished the higher of the quartet.

When asked about the prospect of losing at Worthing, Cook said: “That’s football, I’m afraid. There’s nothing else you can do but do you best.  If you lose I’d be more angry if we don’t perform. If we perform and they still beat us, I’ll go fair enough, that’s football.

“There’s a winner and a loser. It’s not good for the loser. I’d address that if we lose but I’m very determined and so are my boys to win the game and that’s what we’re going ahead trying to do.

“If we lose then we’ll regroup and we go again and that’s it. There’s no other two ways about that.

“If we lose and go into the South next year I’ll tell you now before we’re even there we will win it! We will win it outright! I’m not being cocky, I’m never that kind of person but I’m very, very sure where we are at the moment with Hythe Town, I’m very, very sure.”

Play-offs games are tight nervy affairs and previous results between the clubs count for nothing.

Cook said: “It’s all on the night, it’s whose got it on the night and it’s who turns up.  I think they’ll have a game plan and we’ll have a game plan and I think it’s who executes their game plan in the right way.

“They’ll be very good on their pitch.  We know what we’re going to do. We’re not too bad on astroturf anyway, we’ve only lost to them and we beat Carshalton and Whyteleafe so not a problem.

“I just think let’s not kick into too much about the pitch. I think it’s all in the mind. If the mind-set’s right we’ll win the game and that’s how I see things.

“I’m excited, I really am excited about what we’ve done and also where we’re going to be whether it’s this year or next year, tomorrow I’ll tell you.

“If we lose I’ll walk away (from Worthing) absolutely disappointed because we’ve worked so hard to be in the position that were in. I don’t want to see that given up.

“I won’t have to do much of a team talk that’s for sure!”

Folkestone Invicta would certainly like Hythe Town to join them in the Ryman Premier League because of the financial benefits a local derby will bring.

Folkestone Invicta boss Neil Cugley celebrated his 1,0001^st game in charge of the club with a 3-0 home victory over Tooting & Mitcham United on Saturday.

Cook paid tribute to Cugley, by saying: “I’m very proud to know the man. To do that kind of achievement in football in any level of football is absolutely amazing!

“I spoke to Neil last Monday and I said to him ‘I take my hat off to you, I bow to you, that’s one massive achievement.’

“What a great guy to get it as well, fantastic!

“No matter they’re our rivals that doesn’t come into it. The achievement there is absolutely amazing and they’re a good bunch of guys as well, it’s a good club.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Worthing  v  Hythe Town
Ryman League Division One South Play-Off Semi-Final
Tuesday 26^th April 2016
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Woodside Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 7BH