As Hythe Town are no longer in the FA Cup, but Hastings United are, the match due at Reachfields on October 2nd will now need to be re-arranged, so please look out for a new date.

 

MEANWHILE there are still some seats left for the coach to Welwyn Garden City on Saturday September 25th. Why not contact the secretary on 07908 763101 or 01303 265962 to book an away-day with Steve and the lads in the FA Trophy. A luxury trip out for just £10 (plus match admission)--what can possibly go wrong !!!

 

 

Dartford 5 Hythe Town 1

Emirates FA Cup 2^nd Qualifying Round

Saturday 18^th September 2021

 

Statistically, it was the hardest draw we could have been given – away to the team top of National League South. And, in the end, so it proved, as we suffered a heavy defeat to opponents two levels above us.

 

Dartford’s impressive Prince’s Park Stadium is imposing but those of us with long associations with Hythe Town remember fondly our only previous visit, a 1-0 win over Dartford, a remarkable rear guard display, in the final of the Kent Senior Cup back in 2012.

 

Alas, it took the current Darts only three minutes to achieve what their earlier counterparts failed to do in 90. Latecomers – much of Kent was gridlocked due to accidents and roadworks – missed the header at the far post by Ade Azeez, in too much space and found by a deep cross.

 

Frannie Collin limped off with a groin injury on 20 minutes but, soon after, we were level. Darren Oldaker continued where he’d left off from Tuesday night’s impressive display against Sittingbourne, at the heart of most of our best moves. He went on a surging run, leaving a couple of Dartford players in his wake, then played in Alex Brown to slot home.

 

In fact, we then came close to taking the lead, when a 20-yard volley by Liam Smith was tipped over. Oldaker later in the first half brought another sharp save from Craig King, this time from a free-kick. 

 

However, by then we were once more behind, in rather unfortunate fashion, a shot from Dart’s best player on the afternoon, Danny Leonard, striking Tom Wynter’s arm, with Azeez scoring the resultant penalty.

 

It was 3-1 before half-time as we were hit on the break, Leonard shooting home from a tight angle at the end of a break-neck move.

 

Having regrouped, our somewhat makeshift back-four kept Dartford at bay for half an hour but we didn’t really threaten at the other end either. Their fourth once again had an element of bad luck from our perspective, a cross hitting Eli Benoit and flying into the net.

 

The final blow was Azeez’s hat-trick, with a minute of normal time to go, putting away a cross from an unmarked position in the box.

 

So, our FA Cup run ended at the third hurdle. Dartford have good support (816 today), lots of backing and fine facilities. “Built by a Conservative Council” as an advertising board pronounces; reassuringly, this is now aluminum as players, presumably of a different political persuasion, used to enjoy making holes in it by firing shots at it.

 

Team: Will Godmon, Liam Smith, Jarred Trespaderne, James Rogers, Eli Benoit, Tom Wynter, (Jordan Sarfo 69mins), Charlie Webster, Darren Oldaker, Noel Leighton, Frannie Collin (Kane Phillip 21 mins) (Tom Walmsley 77 mins), Alex Brown.

 

Scorers: Dartford - Ade Azeez 3, 29 (pen), 89 mins, Danny Leonard 34 mins, Eli Benoit 89 mins. Hythe Town - Alex Brown 21 mins.

 

Attendance: 816

 

 

By Martin Whybrow

Hythe Town 2 Sittingbourne 1

Pitching In Isthmian League South-East

Tuesday 14th September 2021

 

Hythe won their third match in a row on Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over local rivals Sittingbourne. The Cannons had three centre-backs unavailable for the match, with Eli Benoit and full-back Liam Smith lining up at the back.

 

Understandably, Hythe focused very much on the attack, and that paid off on 21 minutes, when a ball into the box was bundled in by Liam Smith for his first goal of the season. Three minutes later, Sittingbourne had their first opportunity of the match, when Toby Bancroft’s ball into the box was headed against the post by ex-Cannon Johan Caney-Bryan.

 

It didn’t take long for Hythe to score their second goal, as Darren Oldaker sent a ball through to Frannie Collin, who slotted in past the Brickies goalkeeper, scoring his fourth of the campaign. Collin had another opportunity just minutes after, when his shot was tipped past the left-hand post of keeper Harry Brooks.

 

Oldaker had a decent shot on target, which was pushed past the woodwork by Brooks. The Sittingbourne defence didn’t seem great in possession of the ball, giving it away several times. On one of those occasions, Frannie Collin won the ball and went for the shot, with a defender clearing the ball off the line.

 

The second half started very quietly, but eventually, on 70 minutes, Hythe had their first major chance, with Tom Walmsley turning past the Brickies defenders and squaring the ball to substitute Jordan Sarfo, whose shot was saved. Two minutes later, Sittingbourne pulled a goal back through captain Kane Rowland, who broke through the Hythe defence and slotted home.

 

With ten minutes remaining, Darren Oldaker made a run through the defence, going for goal but his shot was saved by Brooks. In injury time, there was a late goal-mouth scramble when Sittingbourne won a corner, with fouls occurring all around the box, eventually resulting in a Hythe free-kick.

 

Hythe return to action with a tricky FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round match at Dartford. Kick-off at Princes Park is at 3PM.

 

Team: Will Godmon, Charlie Webster, Nathan Gordon (Jarred Trespaderne 65 mins), James Rogers, Liam Smith, Eli Beniot, Kane Phillip (Jordan Sarfo 68 mins), Darren Oldaker, Tom Walmsley, Frannie Collin, Alex Brown (Jacob Gilbert 75 mins).

 

Scorers: Hythe Town - Liam Smith 21 mins, Frannie Collin 27 mins. Sittingbourne - Kane Rowland 72 mins.

 

Attendance: 212

There will not be a coach to the Cup match at Dartford next Saturday (18th). We invite car drivers willing to offer lifts to those without cars to come forward at the Sittingbourne match this Tuesday at Reachfields with their contact details. 

 

 

There WILL be a coach to Welwyn Garden City for the following Saturday (25th). An executive style vehicle will leave Reachfields at 10.30am calling at Ashford. Maidstone and Dartford --afterwards leaving Welwyn by 6pm . Fare is £10 per seat and you can book at Reachfields on Tuesday evening or by calling 07908 763101 or 01303 265962. Please do not delay as a good number of bookings have already been made. 

East Grinstead Town 0 Hythe Town 1

Pitching In Isthmian League South-East

Saturday 11^th September 2021

 

The Cannons were thankful for a Frannie Collin second-half penalty as they came away with a 1-0 win at East Grinstead Town on Saturday afternoon.

 

The game started with the hosts having the edge creating the early opportunities as on seven minutes Dylan Cascoe shot straight at Hythe keeper Will Godmon. The Wasps had the ball in the net two minutes later as Seigo Sanogo tapped in at the far post but the referee’s assistant on the nearside had his flag up for offside. The home pressure continued as Troy Walters lifted the ball over the bar and then a corner from Liam Montague found Glenn Wilson who should have done better but sent his header straight at Godmon.

 

The Cannons had to reorganise their defence after twenty minutes as Tom Wynter limped off to be replaced by Jarred Trespaderne. However, the visitors began to threaten as Tom Walmsley laid the ball off to Jacob Gilbert who mishit his shot into the arms of East Grinstead keeper Mattee Pierson. Gilbert, whose work rate impressed, was in the action again a minute from the break as Collin nodded the ball down and the young midfielder was unlucky to see his shot deflected wide.

 

Hythe took control of the second half as Kane Phillip worked his way through and unleashed a shot that was deflected over by Sanogo. Hythe were unlucky again as James Rogers rattled the upright with Collin having a shot blocked from the rebound. However, on 69 minutes substitute Jordan Sarfo surged down the right-hand by-line and was brought down by Montague. The referee who had turned down a number of penalty appeals during the afternoon had no hesitation this time in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Collin who slammed the ball into the middle of the net with Pierson diving to his left giving Hythe the lead.

 

On 76 minutes Collin saw Pierson off his line and lobbed the ball from thirty yards but the keeper, back peddling, was able to catch. The hosts did try to breakdown the visitors defence, but Hythe stood firm and the final two chances in the dying minutes fell to the Cannons as Luke Carey shot straight at Pierson and then Collin pounced on a loose ball but fired wide.

 

The Cannons held on to take all three points to move them up to eighth place after four games. This win should give them confidence as they move into their next league game on Tuesday evening at home to fifth placed Sittingbourne with the kick-off at Reachfields at 7:45pm.

 

Team: Will Godmon, Liam Smith, Nathan Gordon, James Rogers, Tom Wynter (Jarrod Trespaderne 21 mins), Scott Doe, Charlie Webster, Jacob Gilbert, Tom Walmsley (Jordan Sarfo 61 mins), Frannie Collin, Kane Phillip (Luke Carey 83 mins)

 

Scorer: Hythe Town – Frannie Collin 69 min (pen).

 

 

Attendance: 132.