Two late goals gave the Cannons three points in a 2-1 win on Saturday afternoon at Burgess Hill Town. This was despite being defied many times by the excellent performance of Burgess Hill Town keeper Taylor Seymour who denied Hythe a number of goals earlier in the game.
Steve Watt made a couple of changes from the team who played at Littlehampton last week with Liam Smith returning from suspension to replace Kian Garlinge who was unavailable and Bradley Schafer in for Marvin Hamilton.
The game started slowly with limited chances in the first half. The first opportunity fell to the hosts on 16 minutes as a shot 25 yards out by Callum Jenkins sailed high over the crossbar. Hythe had their first effort on 26 minutes as Troy Howard sent in the ball from the right hand side which flew over Seymour onto the roof of the net.
The deadlock was finally broken on 31 minutes as the hosts took the lead. A cross was swung in from the left, and the Hythe defence failed to clear with the ball falling to Kieron Rowe who fired home from inside the penalty area. Just before the break Seymour was on hand twice in quick succession to maintain the home lead at half-time. Both were from corners by Frannie Collin with the first headed towards goal by Liam Smith and the second sent goalwards by Jack Steventon and in each case Seymour saved well.
The Cannons upped the tempo in the second half as they pushed for an equaliser. Liam Smith was to be denied again by Seymour and then on 42 minutes Howard was brought down in the penalty area. Up stepped Collin who sent the ball to Seymour’s left and the keeper duly saved. Howard was involved in the action again as he broke through the Hillians defence only to send his final effort wide.
The half was being dominated by the Cannons as they swept forward in numbers but they were nearly caught on the breakaway as Dan Perry worked his way through with his attempt blocked by Hythe keeper Jack West-Astuti who then seemed to bring a Burgess Hill player down but to the relief of the visitors the Referees Assistant was waving his flag for offside. Two more saves followed from Seymour as he saved a shot from Steventon and then from another header from Liam Smith.
Just as it felt like it wasn’t Hythe’s day, they got the equaliser on 80 minutes. Aaron Barnes charged down the left to finally cross into Johan Caney-Bryan who side footed home from close range. They did suffer one scare before the end. Harry Lawson crossed into Reece Hallard whose final effort went straight into the arms of West-Astuti.
However, it was the Cannons who, two minutes from time, sealed a deserved win as the Hillians failed to clear and Caney-Bryan was on hand to get his second and give Hythe all three points.
Hythe moved up to tenth place with still plenty of games in hand. They return to cup action on Tuesday as they travel to Chatham Town in the Kent Senior Cup Quarter Final. Kick off at Maidstone Road is 7:45pm.
Team: Jack West-Astuti, Liam Smith, Aaron Barnes, Jack Steventon, Lex Allan, Josh Wisson, Troy Howard, Bradley Schafer (Kane Phillip 45 min) (Jarred Trespaderne 87 mins), Johan Caney-Bryan, Frannie Collin, Jake Embery (Josh Stirman 90 mins). Subs Unused: Steve Phillips, Oscar Webb.
Scorers: Burgess Hill Town – Kieran Rowe 33 mins. Hythe Town – Johan Caney-Bryan 80 & 88 mins.
Yellow Cards: Johan Caney-Bryan 31 mins, Lex Allan 43 mins, Kane Phillip 45 mins, Aaron Barnes 56 mins.
Attendance: 453.