Hythe, who were without eight first team regulars, went down 2-0 at Aveley on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Essex.
It was the Isthmian League North side who took the early initiative with their first opportunity falling on eight minutes as they crashed the ball against the cross bar and then very soon after Hythe man of the match Kaka Dembele was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
The early pressure was rewarded on twelve minutes as the hosts took the lead as George Sykes hammered home from the middle of the penalty area.
Paul Booth had the first meaningful attempt for Hythe on 28 minutes as he hit a shot that was gathered easily by the Aveley keeper.
Dembele was on hand again to have shot blocked and then fired just wide. However, it was still the hosts who looked the more likely as Wyan Reid sent in a looping shot from the right that Hythe keeper Will Godmon did well to tip over at full stretch.
The second half started badly for the Cannons as they went further behind on 49 minutes when Aveley were awarded a penalty.
Up stepped Sykes who sent Godmon the wrong way to make it 2-0.
There was little threat from Hythe to get back in the match with two notable exceptions as Tyrone Guthrie rattled the cross bar on 65 minutes and the in the dying minutes Morgan Williamson had a long-range shot that went just wide.
The Cannons will be looking forward to starting the season proper as they entertain South Park next Saturday (12th September 2020) in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.
Hythe Town: Will Godmon, Connor Cheek, Kaka Dembele, James Rogers, Tom Wynter, Dean Beckwith, Liam Smith, Darren Oldaker, Tom Walmsley, Paul Booth, Alex Brown.
Subs: Jarrod Trespaderne, Morgan Williamson, Tyrone Guthrie, Sean Agum, Gary Sidley, Bradley Ihionvien,
Scorers: Aveley-George Sykes 12 & 49 mins.