Chichester City 2 Hythe Town 1

BetVictor Isthmian League

Saturday 22^nd February 2020

The Cannons returned from the long journey to Chichester empty handed as they went down 2-1 on a difficult boggy pitch on Saturday afternoon.

The first half was an even affair with the first two opportunities coming for Chichester’s Rob Hutchings as after seven minutes he hit a low shot straight at Hythe keeper Will Godmon and then he weaved his way from the right into the penalty area firing across the face of the goal. Hythe had their first attack on thirteen minutes as Alex Flisher charged forward but was dispossessed by Connor Cody before he could get his shot away. On a quarter of the hour Matt Axell sent a curling effort over the bar. Danny Walder was then to threaten for Hythe as a free kick drifted towards Jamie Coyle who couldn’t quite get enough onto the ball to divert it towards goal.

Chances were now coming at both ends as a cross from Scott Jones found Hutchings, but his attempt caused no problem for Godmon. At the other end Charlie Webster created a dangerous situation for the home defence but Corey Heath intercepted before the Hythe captain could finish. Hythe were lucky to survive an attack as Coyle denied Axell with a good challenge which led to a melee in the away penalty area and after Godmon clawed the ball away eventually Tom Wynter was on hand to clear off the line. As the game continued end to end Danny Walder laid the ball off to Webster who blazed his attempt high and wide and then at the other end Nathan Gordon produced an excellently timed challenge to dispossess Kellem Haitham. Deep into injury time, Frannie Collin sent a shot just too close to Chichester keeper Steve Mowthorpe to threaten the goal. Both sides went in at half time with the game eventually balanced.

The second half saw the hosts take control and were ahead two minutes after the break as a deep looping cross from Hutchings found Haitham who sneaked in behind Coyle to tap home at the far post. The pressure was now coming from Chichester as Jake Horncastle forced a good save from Godmon and then he sent in a dipping shot that clipped the top of the cross bar. A cross from Axell followed which was headed wide at the near post by Hutchings. Godmon was then to make a rare fumble from a shot by Lloyd Rowlatt but he recovered well to grab the ball.

There were odd threats from the visitors as Collin pounced on a loose ball with his attempt deflected for a corner. A cross from Ryan Davidson followed which was just out of the reach of Rowlatt finally ending up with Scott Jones who at full stretch pushed the ball just wide of the target. Eventually, Chichester deservedly increased their lead on 78 minutes. A free kick from the right by Axell found Jones who beat Godmon to the ball to head home.  Hythe had to wait until the 88^th minute to get a consolation as a long high ball in from Ross Ibbertson found Alex Brown who on the bounce headed home to make it 1-2. Hythe did press for an equaliser to try to rescue a point, but it was to no avail as they had to return home pointless.

Hythe who now sit in ninth place will have a tough challenge next Saturday (29th February 2020) as they entertain high flying Hastings United at Reachfields.

Team: Will Godmon, Kaka Dembele, Nathan Gordon, James Rogers, Jamie Coyle, Tom Wynter, Charlie Webster (Ross Ibbertson 58 mins), Danny Walder (Tom Walmsley 65 mins), Alex Flisher, Frannie Collin, Darren Oldaker (Alex Brown 79 mins).

Scorers: Chichester City-Kaleem Haitham 47 mins, Scott Jones 78 mins. Hythe Town-Alex Brown 88 mins.

Attendance: 201

The club are looking for a new physio as Marc Wheeler is stepping down due to work commitments. 

If you are interested in filling this role then please contact manager Steve Watt on the following email address at. stevenwatt_1@hotmail.co.uk