Clive Cook could not hide his delight after Hythe came from behind to topple Folkestone Invicta in the festive derby at Reachfields on Sunday.

The biggest crowd in Kent this Christmas - 1,527 - saw the Cannons recover from going 1-0 down against the run of play before the break to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Frankie Sawyer and Alfie May, who struck the winner five minutes from time on a day when he might have had a hat-trick.

Hythe boss Cook - celebrating his 57th birthday - said the result went some way towards repairing the damage of the 2011 Boxing Day 8-0 defeat at the hands of Invicta.

He said: "It was absolutely fantastic. I am over the moon and so chuffed for the boys and the squad. What a performance."

Invicta began the day nine points clear at the top while Hythe were in the bottom 10, however Cook claimed a 'perfect' performance ensured they turned over their Shepway neighbours despite missing a host of chances in a dominant performance.

Cook said: "As a manager you can't ask for more than that. We had probably 15 chances in the whole game, and they had two. It was the perfect performance for this game.

"The first 45 minutes was probably the best we've had since I've been here. Going in 1-0 down at half-time we told them not to be disappointed because the penalty - which I thought was a bit soft - was all they'd done."

He claimed: "I knew how to beat them, honest to God. I always said, having seen them a few times, that if you play high against them and the tempo is high they will not be able to handle it.

"Of course I have two jack-in-the-boxes in the form of Frankie and Alfie and they absolutely wrecked them. It wasn't close, being honest.

"It's not that they are a poor side, we beat a very good side and my challenge was to beat the best manager in Neil Cugley.

"That was the biggest and best challenge I've ever had, and I've done it - because the boys listened and believed in it. What a great result."

Matchwinner May was mobbed after his 85th-minute winner and he added: "It was unbelievable. I've never really played in a big derby like this with so many fans. It was an unbelievable experience.

"I think I had six chances and scored one, but I'd rather have scored the winner like that infront of all those people than have the match-ball. You can't beat it.

"We dug in as a team and came out on top. At half-time in the changing room we knew we were on top. They hardy had any chances. We dug in and came up with a win. We deserved it."