Hythe Town manager Andy Crush says his side have set the bar after their 2-0 FA Vase success at SE Dons

Andy Crush believes Hythe Town players have shown anything is possible after their FA Vase second-round success at SE Dons.

The Cannons upset their higher-division opponents 2-0 last weekend thanks to an early double from Josh Byford, including a first-minute opener.

Few gave Crush’s Southern Counties East Division 1 high-fliers a chance against the Premier Division Dons’ collection of established non-league names.

But they were brilliant to a man in setting up a home tie against Reading City in round three on November 29.

“Seven of our starting XI were playing Step 7 football last year,” said manager Crush.

“When you say it like that, it’s quite surreal.

“Some of their boys were playing Step 2 or Step 3 and we’ve gone there and won.

“It shows the togetherness we’ve got, how we’re working things and how much time and effort everybody’s putting in.

“It doesn’t matter what level you’ve played. That’s what I said to the players. As soon as you’re out on that pitch it’s 11 v 11. It’s about what you can do on the pitch and to a man we were brilliant.”

SE Dons, who found fame as YouTube sensations after starting out in Sunday League football, had already reached the final qualifying round of the FA Cup this season.

And they were set on a long run in the Vase until Hythe stopped them in their tracks.

“Apart from George (Kamurasi) in goal, they were as strong as you’re going to get,” said Crush, who described the Dons as “really nice people”.

“The Vase was the one they went on about wanting to go far in, so it’s not like people can say they rotated or didn’t fancy it. They were desperate to try and get to Wembley.

“It’s a great result and I’ve said to the lads they’ve really set a bar now because we can’t concede bad goals