"PEOPLE will look at that result and say 'wow, what happened there?'".
Hythe Town boss Clive Cook wasn't the only one asking that at 9.45pm on Tuesday night after his side had been annihilated 7-0 by Worthing in a Ryman South play-off semi final.
It was only 2-0 at half time to the Rebels in Sussex, the Cannons still had a chance but once Omar Bugiel fired under Joe Mant four minutes after the break, it was curtains.
Thereafter, Hythe were simply embarrassed, shipping four more as they couldn't get to grips with the occasion, the irresistible opposition and their 3G pitch.
A demoralised Cook said after the game: "We were absolutely beaten by a good a side on their pitch. That's it.
"There is no excuse. We have had 35 games together and I think we did very, very well but the last two games, we haven't been there at all, we might as well have not turned up.
"They [Worthing] were a very good side, we knew that and I feel we lost the play-offs on Saturday [losing 4-0 at Faversham Town] because if we got the home draw we would have had more incentive at home, on grass. I don't want to make any excuses though."
Cook added that he is in for a busy Summer as the Cannons try and rebuild the wreckage inflicted by their utter humiliation.
Joe Mant made eight super saves but still conceded seven goals
It's easy to forget that Hythe were without a win in ten before Cook came in and turned things around alongside chairman Paul Markland.
But, for the time being, Cook could only focus on the present.
"I am absolutely gutted, it's going to be a busy summer in areas.
"It makes you realise, when you sit there [pointing towards the dugout, that we are not the finished article by a long way and we need to strengthen and get better.
"When the going gets tough I need players that will be with us in the trenches and we didn't have that.
"People will look at the score and go wow, which i would do as well. it hurts and as long as it hurts all around at least we got something out of it.
"This is going to take a long time to get over.
"First half, we were quite pleased, I thought we could weather the storm first 15 of the second but we didn't.
"We said the right things, but they scored literally straight after half time and it absolutely killed us. All that we said for 15 minutes was done.
"I am happy to have got the club into a good position but, I don't like 7-0s, I don't do 7-0s. full stop."
