Staplehurst Monarchs 2 Hythe Town 2
Southern Counties East 1st Division
Saturday 3rd October 2026
The Cannons looked destined for their first defeat of the season but showed great character with two goals in the last ten minutes to come away from Staplehurst Monarchs with a 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon.
There was only one enforced change to the Cannons starting line-up with George Grosvenor a late replacement for the injured Teddy Nelson who failed a pre-match fitness test.
It couldn’t have started worse for Hythe as on only 15 seconds they were behind. Bradley Webb picked up the ball and sent a speculative shot that deflected into the path of Timmy Babbington who finished neatly as the far post.
Hythe had their first opportunity on ten minutes as Jarred Trespaderne hooked a shot from 20 yards over the bar and then James Nurden from the same distance skewed an effort wide of the target. However, it was the hosts who were dominating play creating the lion’s share of the chances.
The Cannons had to be thankful to keeper Dan Smith as a volley from Vinnie Medhurst forced him to save well to his left. The visitors did have a golden opportunity to get back into the game as a deep free kick in to the box was met by the head of Michael Stott who sent the ball across the face of the goal and just out of the reach of Jake Embery who was unable to redirect into the net.
However, pressure continued on the Hythe goal as a cross from Toby Sargeant was intercepted by captain Lewis Stevens-Toomey before it reached a home striker and then shortly before the break Babbington was denied by a stretching save by Smith. Staplehurst went in at the break with a deserved one goal lead.
Hythe had an opportunity on 52 minutes to get an equaliser as Josh Byford sent in a long ball from his own half in to the path of Embery but Steven Lawrence in the home goal was quickly off his line to snuff out the chance. However, the away side were well off form and conceded two minutes later. Tagan Kray snatched on a loose ball playing out to Webb who whipped in a deep cross to Oliver Lankshear free on the far post. He made no mistake tapping the ball into the Hythe net.
Hythe were off-colour and Staplehurst were now looking to seal the win as they continued to dominate the game. A corner from Webb was headed wide by Sam Sharp and then Sargeant was denied by a Smith save. Babbington was to have a shot that went straight at Smith and this was followed by Kray firing over the bar.
There seemed no way back into the game for the Cannons until the 80th minute when Embery pounced as Lawrence attempted to clear but completely missed the ball and the Hythe leading scorer slid it in to an empty net.
Suddenly confidence flowed as immediately Byford sent in a low cross that was headed towards goal by substitute Richie Keil but his effort was cleared off the line by Sharp. But the visitors were not to be denied as on the stroke of 90 minutes. A shot by Richie Keil was also cleared but not before the referee’s assistant had ruled the ball had crossed the line and the scores were level.
It had been an unlikely comeback for the Cannons but it had shown the character of this Hythe team who despite having an off day still dug deep to come away with a point.
Team: Dan Smith, Michael Stott, James Nurden (Sammy Carpenter 65 mins), Jarred Trespaderne, Lewis Stevens-Toomey, George Grosvenor, Monty Saunders (Harry Codd 58 mins), Harry Maher (Josh McCue 90+2 mins), Jake Embery, Josh Byford, Harry Linch (Richie Keil 79 mins). Sub Unused: Teddy Nelson.
Scorers: Staplehurst Monarchs – Timmy Babbington 1 min, Oliver Lankshear 54 mins. Hythe Town – Jake Embery 80 mins, Richie Keil 90 mins.
Yellow Card: Jarred Trespaderne 82 mins.
Attendance: 94.
