The Club are delighted to announce the appointment of local and non league manager Sammy Moore as the successor to fans favourite Steve Watt

 

Sammy brings experience, enthusiasm and charisma as well as living a stones throw from

Reachfields. 

 

His management team will include his long time friend and UEFA B Coach Darren Beale with the possibility of a further 'new' face to be confirmed. 

 

The first challenge is to complete the season with a depleted looking squad suffering from injuries and availability issues!

 

He and his management team will then begin the process of rebuilding and shaping a new squad for the 24-25 Season which kicks off on Saturday August 10th. 

 

The Club had a wealth of applications from the very experienced non league scene right through to former Premiership players, oh and of course the funny ones too. 

 

Having shortlisted three exciting candidates the Board agreed unanimously on the appointment of Sammy Moore and look forward to renewed vigour. 

 

 

I'm sure you will offer Sammy and his management team a very warm welcome. 

Hythe Town 0 Sittingbourne 1

Pitching In Isthmian League South-East

Tuesday 16^th April 2024

 

Hythe put up a valiant effort on Tuesday night with dwindling numbers of available players, as they went down 1-0 at home to Sittingbourne at Reachfields. On his final match as caretaker manager before Sammy Moore takes over, Alex Flisher made two changes from Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Phoenix Sports, as the injured Brad Schafer and Steve Phillips were replaced by Troy Howard and Sam Flisher who, despite being a right-back by trade, came in as goalkeeper.

 

Despite the odds being stacked against the Cannons, it was a very even start to the match, and Hythe had the first chance on six minutes, as an Oscar Webb corner was deflected by a Sittingbourne defender onto the head of Harry Rowland, whose effort nustled into the roof of the net. The Brickies got their first chance on 17 minutes, when Harry Hope darted forward and got a shot away, which Sam Flisher managed to push away to his right for a corner. Flisher was once again the saviour on 22 minutes, as a shot from a Sittingbourne player was saved by his legs, before Harry Hope slammed a shot on the rebound off the underside of the crossbar.

 

On 31 minutes, Hythe had to deal with another setback after Josh Stirman was given a straight red card from the referee following a comment made on the pitch. Despite Hythe's bold attempt at keeping a clean sheet, it wasn't meant to be, and in the 41st minute a shot towards goal was saved by Sam Flisher, but Chris Harris managed to head the ball on the rebound and, despite Flisher getting a hand to it, the ball crept in to give the visitors the lead going into half-time.

 

In the second half, the fans continued to see a very balanced match between the two sides. The first chance came on 65 minutes, as Jake Embery received the ball for Hythe and opted to shoot from 25 yards out - his shot went just over the crossbar. The second half went on without either side managing to register a chance, but on 90 minutes, Kian Garlinge was shown a second yellow card, meaning Hythe were down to nine men. Despite this, Sittingbourne couldn't take advantage when goal scorer Chris Harris hit a shot at goal which Sam Flisher parried away to top off a solid performance between the sticks.

 

The result does mean that Hythe have lost nine matches in a row, but the fight shown from the players was admirable, as they failed to go down without a fight. With this being Alex Flisher's final game as caretaker manager, there should be some optimism around the club as we await Sammy Moore's first match in charge away to Broadbridge Heath on Saturday, with the game kicking off at 3pm.

 

Team: Sam Flisher, Kian Garlinge, Harry Rowland (Lex Allan 90 +1 mins), Oscar Webb (Jack Steventon 90+1 mins), Josh Wisson, Liam Smith, Aaron Barnes, Jake Embery, Johan Caney-Bryan, Josh Stirman, Troy Howard. Subs Unused: Ethan Smith, Jarred Trespaderne, Bradley Schafer.

 

Scorer: Sittingbourne – Charlie Harris 41 mins.

 

Red Cards: Josh Stirman 31 mins, Kian Garlinge 90+4 mins (Second Yellow Card)

Yellow Cards: Josh Wisson 84 mins, Oscar Webb 90 mins, Sam Flisher 90+6 mins.

 

Attendance: 155

 

 

Report by Tom Ellerby

Hythe Town 0 Phoenix Sports 1

Pitching In Isthmian League South-East

Saturday 13^th April 2024

 

Hythe lost their eighth game in a row on Saturday afternoon, going 1-0 down against Phoenix Sports. With his squad wearing thin due to injuries, interim manager Alex Flisher made three changes from Tuesday night's hammering away to Three Bridges, as Josh Stirman, Josh Wisson and Aaron Barnes replaced Sam Itauma, Kai Garande and Josh Vincent, who were all unavailable.

 

The first chance went Hythe's way on 11 minutes, when Jake Embery shifted the ball to Aaron Barnes, who played it to the onrushing Josh Wisson - his powerful first-time shot from just outside the box went just past the post. However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock two minutes later as a loose ball in the penalty area was tucked into the net by Ryan Hayes past former Phoenix stopper Steve Phillips.

 

The first half went on without any notable opportunities for either side until right at the end of the half, when Oscar Webb received a long ball and ran into the box, but went to the floor before he could get his shot away, as the calls for a penalty were waved away by referee Peter Conn.

 

In the second half, Hythe were inches away from equalising on 54 minutes through an Oscar Webb free kick from 25 yards out, which he placed onto the head of Josh Wisson, who nodded the ball narrowly wide of the post. On 65 minutes, it was almost 2-0 to Phoenix, when goal scorer Ryan Hayes managed to get a powerful shot on target from range which Steve Phillips had to react quickly to, catching the ball before it could go in. The last ten minutes of the match were played almost exclusively in the visitors' own half as they struggled to clear the ball away, but Hythe were unable to do anything with the ball. One last hope for a point came in stoppage time, as Brad Schafer tried to break through the defence but was brought down just outside the box. Oscar Webb stepped up to take the free kick, blazing it over the bar.

 

The full-time whistle blew to mark another defeat for Hythe, but an important victory for Phoenix Sports, who are now guaranteed a place in next season's Isthmian League South-East Division. Hythe are back in action on Tuesday night as they entertain Sittingbourne, who sit third in the table, at Reachfields at 7:45pm.

 

Team: Steve Phillips, Kian Garlinge, Bradley Schafer, Josh Wisson, Liam Smith, Harry Rowland, Aaron Barnes, Josh Stirman (Jack Steventon 79 mins), Johan Caney-Bryan, Oscar Webb, Jake Embery. Subs Unused: Lex Allan, Jarred Trespaderne, Sam Flisher, Ethan Smith.

 

Scorer: Phoenix Sports – Ryan Hayes 13 mins.

 

Yellow Card: Josh Stirman 45 + 2 mins.

 

 

Attendance: 170