To say that Hythe Town manager Clive Cook was an unhappy man after his side’s 1-1 draw with Faversham Town on New Year’s Eve would be an understatement. 

On a day of mixed feelings, from everything surrounding Alfie May’s final appearance for Hythe and his move to Doncaster Rovers,
to seeing his side let slip a lead they had held comfortably, it was an understandably frustrated Cook who spoke to Kent Sports News.

The prolific May turned provider for Frankie Sawyer’s 34th minute opener; the Doncaster-bound winger’s cross finding his strike partner
with enough time and space to chest the ball down and plant his shot beyond Will Godmon in the Faversham goal.  Godmon was the busier of the two keepers, also saving twice apiece from May and Sam Adams, before denying former Faversham forwards Dean Grant and Liam King in the second half.

But, despite having a relatively comfortable afternoon, Hythe’s Joe Mant couldn’t react to Faversham’s equaliser; Ryan Johnson’s attempted clearance rebounding off the body of Jordan Casey from close range.

“We’ve dominated the game, they never looked to be in it in my opinion”, said Cook.  “We totally dominated that game and deserved the
three points.  We had enough chances to have put that game to bed and they go and get a sloppy goal like that.  But that is football.  I’m
just a little bit gobsmacked at the moment.  One-all should never have been the result, there was nothing in the game to justify that and they
(Faversham) have got out of jail there.”

“For long periods Faversham had eight or nine men behind the ball.  OK, we’ve got a point from the game, fair play to Faversham for that, but we’ve missed our chances in that game.  It wasn’t the sendings off, it wasn’t them putting men behind the ball, we’ve missed out opportunities.

Cook was also unhappy with the dismissal of Ryan Johnson, just minutes after the Lillywhite’s Sam Bewick had received a straight red for an
ugly lunge.  He added “if you look at the two sendings off, there’s no comparison.  There’s a tackle that it off the floor (Bewick’s), but Ryan
has spoken to the referee and been sent off for foul and abusive language.  He got a yellow then decided to send him off; it’s one of
those, so he’ll miss next week (Saturday).”

Fortunately for Hythe, Johnson will be available for Monday’s derby match against Jim Ward’s Ramsgate, a game Cook admitted would be a
challenge.  He said “it will be a battle, and of the three over Christmas/New Year, that is the one that I expected to be more of a battle.”