Hythe Town 3 VCD Athletic 0

BetVictor Isthmian League South-East

Saturday 14^th December 2019

A resurgent Hythe Town cruised to a thoroughly deserved 3-0 win against VCD Athletic on Saturday afternoon.

It was the Cannons who took early control in the game as on seven minutes Alex Flisher played the ball into debutant Sam Blackman who hooked his attempt over the bar. Flisher was then involved in a free-kick from just outside the penalty area that was caught at full strength by VCD keeper Matt Funnell. Funnell was on hand again on 23 minutes as Stephen Okoh had a shot from the left palmed away by the keeper. The visitors had to wait until the 26^th minute to create their first real opportunity as Raheem Sterling-Parker cut in and curled a shot just wide of the target.

Hythe turned their dominance into a goal on 32 minutes as a free kick from Danny Walder from the left beat Funnell at the near post and crept into the corner of the net. Two minutes later Hythe doubled their lead as Okoh crossed into Blackman who slammed home from the middle of the penalty area. Funnell was to prevent further problems for VCD as he tipped away a searching corner from Flisher before any further danger ensued. On the stroke of half-time a long-range effort from Dominic Odusanya sailed high and wide.

VCD came out in the second half with more purpose as Charlie MacDonald got onto the ball but Hythe keeper Will Godmon was quick off his line to block with his legs and then a header from Ali Fuseini looped into Godmon’s arms. Godmon was in the action again on 57 minutes as he saved a shot from Temi Eweka. However, the Hythe defence remained resolute and as the half progressed the danger came more from the hosts as Flisher played Dembele in but he fired his final effort over the bar.

Substitute Tom Walmsley was starting to create problems for the VCD defence as he played the ball into Flisher who forced Funnell to tip the ball over the bar and then on 75 minutes Walmsley sealed the three points for the Cannons as he got onto a corner that was deflected as it came into the area hooking the ball home from ten yards out. With nine minutes to go things got worse for the visitors as Eweka received a second yellow card for a challenge reducing VCD to ten men. Dembela then broke in from the right but his final effort was cleared away for a corner.

It was good to see the Cannons return to winning ways in great style with a very useful three points that keep Hythe in seventeenth place. They can now go with confidence into their game next Saturday at Ramsgate.

Team: Will Godmon, Ross Ibbertson, Nathan Gordon, James Rogers (Jacob Brown 84 mins), Jamie Coyle, Eli Benoit, Kaka Dembele, Danny Walder, Alex Flisher, Sam Blackman (Alex Brown 69 mins), Stephen Okoh (Tom Walmsley 59 mins).

Scorers: Hythe Town-Danny Walder 32 mins, Sam Blackman 34 mins, Tom Walmsley 75 mins.

Attendance: 141

Hythe Town have taken midfielder Sam Blackman on an initial month`s loan from Vanarama National League South side Dartford. Blackman re-joined the Darts in May after spending the previous season at Concord Rangers.

He previously played at Leatherhead and was part of the Millwall academy before joining Dartford`s equivalent as a youngster.

The club are delighted to announce the two signings. Firstly 30-year old midfielder Danny Walder has come from Ashford United having joined them from Faversham Town in the summer. He has also turned out for Gillingham, Sheppey United, Tonbridge Angels, Dover Athletic, Herne Bay and Ramsgate.

Also joining is Nathan Gordon a 27-year old left back who joins us from Sevenoaks Town. 

Guernsey 0 Hythe Town 0

BetVictor Isthmian League South East

Saturday 7^th December 2019

Depleted Hythe Town put up an excellent defensive performance to come away from Guernsey with a scoreless draw at Footes Lane on Saturday afternoon.

Hythe, who were without the injured Aaron Simpson, suspended Alex Flisher and Ollie Rowe who was unavailable for the game, were the first on the attack as after four minutes Alex Brown lifted a shot over the bar from just outside the area. The hosts had to wait until the 12th minute to first threaten as a free-kick from Charlton Gauvain was pulled wide of the target. On 16 minutes Keanu Marsh went down in the Hythe area but the referee waved away the appeals for a penalty. At the other end Kaka Dembele was also to pull an attempt wide.

The Cannons were then hampered on 25 minutes by an injury to Frannie Collin who was replaced by young Jacob Brown making his first appearance for Hythe. Guernsey were pressing but failing to find the killer punch as the Cannons defence stayed resolute with Thomas De La Mare launching a shot over the bar. On 29 minutes Hythe had some luck, that has evaded them in recent weeks, as Eli Beniot brought down Gauvain. This time the referee had no hesitation to point to the penalty spot. Up stepped Gauvain but his poorly taken penalty failed to test Hythe keeper Will Godmon who saved easily to his right. One last opportunity in the half for Guernsey saw Liam Mahon send in a free-kick that was blasted by Alex Scott into the side netting.

In form Guernsey continued to press but were still finding it difficult to break down a resolute Hythe defence that met the challenges put before them. On 50 minutes Matt Loaring dribbled his way into the penalty area with his final shot forcing Godmon to save at full stretch and then from the resultant corner Gauvain shot wide from twenty yards. Hythe were having their share of opportunities as firstly Alex Brown under pressure turned and shot but his effort lacked power and Guernsey keeper Callum Stanton gathered the ball. On the hour, Hythe man of the match, Ross Ibbertson cut in from the right having his final effort saved by Stanton.

On 70 minutes the Cannons were unlucky as Kaka Dembele played in to Jamie Coyle but his shot across the face of goal was just out of the reach of the advancing Stephen Okoh.  A further injury hit the Cannons on 71 minutes as Alex Brown limped off to be replaced by another youngster Josh Eka.  Guernsey were now turning the screw but still couldn’t get the vital break through. Mahon had a shot that was deflected wide by James Rogers and then sent in a corner that was headed wide by Harry Tobin. Hythe were working on the break and could still have stolen an unlikely winner. A Rogers corner with a minute left of normal time was headed over by Coyle.

Dembele was to then play in veteran striker Nathan Elder who was on as a late substitute but his glancing header went just wide. With the referee just about to blow for full time Godmon palmed away a cross by Gauvain to prevent any danger and they were to hold on for a fully deserved point.

It was a massively improved performance from the Cannons from the last two defeats and hopefully this will kick start their season. Special mention should be made of the two youngsters, Jacob Brown and Josh Eka who came on and rose to the occasion not letting any of the team down.

The Cannons must now use this performance as a launch pad as they entertain VCD Athletic back at Reachfields next Saturday. (14^th November 2019).

Team: Will Godmon, Ross Ibbertson, Kaka Dembele, James Rogers, Jamie Coyle, Eli Benoit, Stephen Okoh, Alex Brown (Josh Eka 72 mins), Tom Walmsley, Frannie Collin (Jacob Brown 25 mins), Jarred Trespaderne (Nathan Elder 85 mins).

Attendance: 811