Hythe Town gave boss Clive Cook the ideal birthday present with a comfortable Bank Holiday derby win over Chatham Town that lifted them into the Play Off places the Ryman South table.
The win courtesy of goals from Dean Grant, Sam Adams and soon to be departing Alfie May was Hythe’s 11th on the road already so far this season, whilst ironically being the Medway side’s 11th home League defeat of what has been a turbulent campaign for the Chats – a fact that wasn’t lost on new boss Paul Piggott when he spoke to KSN after the game.
“It’s terrible – it’s simply not good enough!” was his assessment of the clubs return of just six points out of thirty three at the Maidstone Road Sports Ground when asked. “That’s why we’re third from bottom. It’s so disappointing but we want to do better in front of our own supporters but if we can keep performing like we did today in the second half I think the improvement will come. It’s disappointing that we’ve lost a game of football and we don’t accept losing but we came up against a good side today and I think for 30/35 minutes of the second half we did alright. We had three good chances but we can look at the positives that we created the chances, but when you’re in the position we’re in, we’ve got to be taking the chances and when you don’t just look at the League table.
For birthday boy Cook, the mood couldn’t have been more contrasting. He told us, “Coming here day after Boxing Day not having played for ten days against a new manager and a new team, I was a bit worried so to come away with three points, I’m delighted!”
We’ve so many derbies in this League that it doesn’t matter when they are, With Chatham today it was more having to impress a new manager and I thought that they were very good second half but we were poor. We didn’t come out after half time which is disappointing and gives us a bit to work on before our next two games which are both derbies again (against Faversham and Ramsgate respectively).”
Hythe made the running early on and Grant could easily have had a first half hat-trick. He missed a couple of chances early on – one where he couldn’t quite reach a cross and the second shooting wide – before sensationally drilling home on the angle after a defence splitting pass from Adams which gave Chats keeper Alex Hyde no chance whatsoever. Adams himself doubled the advantage ten minutes from half time with a skimming low drive which again gave the Chats keeper no chance. The home side did though give their fans some hope shortly before the break when Ryan Flack launched himself at a right wing cross to gloriously head home his first goal for the club.
After the break the Chats rallied but couldn’t get back on level terms although at the start of the half Ejiro Okosieme was a relieved defender when referee Packman showed some “Christmas spirit” and didn’t show a second yellow card after he’d brought down a Hythe man on the edge of the box. Okosieme then set up the home side’s best chance as he layed a half cleared corner into the path of Owen Price who’s shot was turned aside well by Hythe keeper Joe Mant. As the half wore on it looked as the home side weren’t going to get anything for their efforts – their afternoon summed up when Kyron Lightfoot battled into the box and appeared to be brought down by a combination on Mant and a defender, but again the official was lenient and “just” awarded a goal kick.
Chatham’s afternoon’s misery was then complete when May, who was a second half substitute, raced onto a great ball over the top and drilled home past a hopeless exposed Hyde for what may well be May’s 25th and last goal for the Cannons before the anticipated move into League football with Doncaster Rovers next week when the transfer window opens.
His current boss was full of praise for his departing striker – he said, “He’s been tremendous for me and the club – he’s been easy to manage; he’s been a superb young man and I’m so pleased that he’s going to a team at the next level. Surprised and disappointed that he’s not going to a more local club but fair play to Doncaster for taking the chance that others wouldn’t!”
Chats boss Piggott added, “He was lively today when he came on and has done well for himself. He’s obviously got his head down and has done the right things and has got noticed so fair play to him and good luck at Doncaster.”
May’s last game in the Hythe red will be another derby on Saturday against Ray Turner’s Faversham Town at Reachfields. “It’ll be a tough game – Ray and Clive (Walker) always get their sides out very well. We had a couple out today so I hope that they don’t take too much notice of the performance. Jay May and Nick Reeves will both be back on Saturday after being away for Christmas so we’ll be raring to go. We’ve made the top five by winning today – it’s a nice place to be with games in hand and we’re doing alright. I know where we went wrong last year – our squad wasn’t strong enough in certain areas and with Dean Grant coming in today and Jay back at the weekend, that will be a good pairing – trust me!” the Hythe boss added with a knowing smile.
Piggott next takes his embattled side to Winches Field on Friday night to face Herne Bay looking to complete the double over the Bay. “We need wins,” the boss admitted, “whether they’re home or away doesn’t make a difference. We gave our all today and were punished for mistakes but we’ll be looking to take today’s positives onward to Friday night.”