The Cannons were grateful for an injury time penalty from Frannie Collin to secure their place in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Trophy.
To do this they sealed a 3-2 win in an exciting encounter at Concord Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
Manager, Steve Watt made two changes to the team that drew with Ashford United with Charles Noyelle coming in for the unavailable Jake Embery and Bradley Schafer replacing Jarred Trespaderne in the starting lineup.
It was Concord who were first to threaten as Freddie Price broke free on the left looping his final cross just past the far post. Hythe had their first opportunity on ten minutes as a Collin deep free kick was headed wide by Liam Smith. The visitors were beginning to take control and were rewarded on a quarter of an hour as Marcus Goldsmith chased down the right delivering a pinpoint deep cross to find Johan Caney-Bryan who headed home at the far post.
However, the lead was only too last for ten minutes as Eren Kanali raced down the right putting a cross to the far post where Price was on hand to tap home. There were a couple of chances at both ends before a moment of skill and determination by Ethan Smith was rewarded with a second Hythe goal. The youngster won a challenge with a home defender and then ran to the ball to plant his shot across Concord keeper Mason Terry into the far corner of the net to give the Cannons a 41st minute lead.
After the break there was a long spell where both sides were trying to get the initiative without creating any clear-cut chances. In the 71st minute a deep cross from Kinali found Tahje Anderson whose strike went over the bar and Caney-Bryan in the penalty-box got a shot away that was superbly saved by Terry. The keeper was to save again from an effort from Aaron Barnes.
Former Dover Athletic striker Ricky Modeste was to bring the scores level on 83 minutes as a cross from the right touch line sailed over Hythe keeper Steve Phillips and into the far top corner of the net. Ethan Smith was to nearly equalise on 85 minutes as he blasted wide but finally two minutes into injury time the Cannons were to get the winner. The ball was bouncing about in the Concord penalty area finally hitting the arm of a home defender. After a second to think the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Collin to bury his kick into the corner of the net just out of the reach of Terry bring relief to the travelling Hythe supporters.
The hosts looked for the equaliser but could breakthrough in remaining eight minutes of injury time and it is Hythe who go through to the next round draw that will be announced at 1pm on Monday. The hosts will be at home to Sevenoaks Town at Reachfields on Tuesday evening. Kick off is 7:45pm.
Team: Steve Phillips, Marcus Goldsmith, Bradley Schafer (Kane Phillip 88 mins), Jack Steventon, Liam Smith, Lex Allan, Aaron Barnes (Josh Stirman 88 mins), Ethan Smith, Johan Caney-Bryan, Frannie Collin, Charles Noyelle (Jarred Trespaderne 76 mins). Subs not used: Sam Flisher, Kai Garande.
Scorers: Concord Rangers – Freddie Price 26 mins, Ricky Modeste 83 mins. Hythe Town – Johan Caney-Bryan 15 mins, Ethan Smith 41 mins, Frannie Collin 90 mins (pen)
Yellow Card: Josh Stirman 90 mins
Attendance: 129