Lordswood 3 Hythe Town 7
Southern Counties East 1st Division
Saturday 25th October 2026
The Cannons literally blew Lordswood away in a magnificent 7-3 win in the wind and the rain on Saturday afternoon at the KG Property Stadium.
Manager Andy Crush made two changes to the starting line-up with captain Lewis Stevens-Toomey and Harry Maher returning to replace Richie Keil and Josh McCue who were both on the bench.
The game could not have started better for Hythe as they took the lead on only five minutes. Harry Linch crossed in from the right corner. The ball cannoned against a Lordswood head and onto Jake Embery whose shot from the middle of the penalty area took a deflection past home keeper Archie Burford into the back of the net.
However, the lead only lasted two minutes as an in-swinging corner from Luke Adams was helped by the wind deceiving Hythe keeper Dan Smith and going straight in at the far post. Lordswood were unlucky on thirteen minutes as former Cannon Tyler Sterling had an effort deflected wide.
It was the Cannons who were to take total control as on 22 minutes Linch got behind the home defence and sent in a cross that was headed away to Embery who chipped the ball back into the penalty area again finding a defender who tried to clear. This time it came to Josh Byford whose left foot effort flew into the top corner giving Burford no chance.
It was three on 25 minutes as Harry Codd nodded the ball into the path of Embery who broke through and calmly finished with the ball coming off the bottom of the right hand up right and across the line. The onslaught wasn’t over and four minutes later it was four for the Cannons. A clearance found its way to Linch who played back to Michael Stott who after a couple of steps rifled home from 25 yards to the delight of the travelling supporters.
Embery was to send an effort wide when there came a moment of controversy as Burford came out of his area to clear before Embery reached the ball. He failed to clear leaving the goal empty but Lordswood defender Luke Kimberley brought down Hythe’s leading scorer on the edge of the penalty area. Kimberley could count himself lucky to receive only a yellow card. Adam Turton’s resultant free kick went into the area but the visitors could not capitalise on the opportunity.
Four minutes before the break the Cannons’ demolition job continued with an individual goal from Linch as he picked up the ball in his own half from a Lordswood goal kick. He ran down the right beating two home defenders before breaking into the penalty. He paused and changed to his left foot and curled the ball into the corner of the net.
The break could not come quick enough for the hosts and the 5-1 half time lead was well deserved.
With the weather conditions deteriorating, it was the Cannons who were to be awarded a penalty as Harry Maher was bundled over in the penalty area. Up stepped Embery who calmly tapped his penalty into the net with Burford going the wrong way. This marked Embery’s thirteenth goal of the season and Hythe were now 6-1 ahead.
To their credit Lordswood did not give up and pulled a goal back on 58 minutes. Substitute Jack Richards sent in a free kick from the right-hand side. The ball came off a Hythe defender and Thomas Davey was on hand to poke the ball home. There were still chances coming at the other end and Maher sent an attempt straight into the arms of Burford. Hythe were then to give away a penalty on 74 minutes as Richie Keil pushed into the back of George Miles and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Richards planted his spot kick just out of the reach of Smith and it was 6-3.
There were no more scares for Hythe and in fact they restored their four-goal lead with a sensational goal with the very last kick of the game. Substitute Sammy Carpenter picked up the ball just inside the Lordswood half. He saw Burford well off his line and sent the ball high into the air towards goal. It dropped down just under the crossbar to put the “icing on the Cannons’ cake.
It had been a magnificent performance against another promotion challenger on an atrocious afternoon but despite this the pitch had drained well. The unbeaten run went to eleven games and confidence is flowing in the squad. Long may this run continue!!
Team: Dan Smith, Michael Stott, James Nurden, Harry Maher (George Grosvenor 80 mins), Lewis Stevens-Toomey, Teddy Nelson, Harry Codd (Richie Keil 70 mins), Adam Turton, Jake Embery (Robbie Keil 88 mins), Josh Byford (Sam Carpenter 70 mins), Harry Linch (Josh McCue 70 mins).
Scorers: Lordswood – Luke Adams 7 mins, Thomas Davey 58 mins, Jack Richards 74 mins. Hythe Town -Jake Embery 5,25 & 48 (pen) mins, Josh Byford 22 mins, Michael Stott 29 mins, Harry Linch 41 mins, Sam Carpenter 90+3 mins.
Attendance: 112
