The Cannons were easily beaten by an East Grinstead Town team who showed greater desire as they lost 5-2 at East Court on Saturday afternoon. It was a disappointing showing from the visitors who never got into top gear. 
The hosts, who named four ex-Hythe players in the starting line-up, were the first to show as after only two minutes Greg Cundle nodded the ball over the cross bar. On only five minutes, East Grinstead were awarded a penalty as Karn Miller-Neave was brought down in the penalty area. Up stepped Cundle who slammed the ball home with Hythe keeper Tony Coxall well beaten. This seemed to wake the visitors up as they began to look more dangerous. On 22 minutes, Kieron Campbell turned on the edge of the area and curled the ball around home keeper Brannon Daly but also just the wrong side of the upright and then following some neat work by Zak Ansah feeding Tom Carlton who lifted the ball over the bar. Ansah was to have a chance of his own as he broke through but a combination of Drew Cooney and Daly scrambled the ball away.
Things got worse for Hythe on 34 minutes as a deep cross from the right found former Cannon Mitchell Chapman who forced the ball home at the far post. This led to an impressive fight back from the visitors as they narrowed the lead on 38 minutes as a long clearance from Mitchell Dickenson found Campbell who worked his way through and finished neatly. Four minutes later Hythe were level as Carlton was brought down by Cooney and Ansah calmly stroked the ball home from the penalty spot. Just as Hythe looked to have got back in the game the Wasps regained the initiative and took the lead a minute before the break as the ball came over from the right and after a melee in the penalty area Cundle was able to force the ball home for his second of the game.
The Cannons had the first chance of the second period as a neat cross from Salvyn Kisitu was headed over by Ansah but on 52 minutes East Grinstead extended their lead as the ball found Ollie Boulding who curled the ball into the top corner. Ansah did have an opportunity as he attempted a lob over Daly but the keeper was able to back track and prevent the ball going hear the goal. The Wasps put the game out of the visitors reach on 57 minutes as Cundle sealed the win with his third goal placing a shot in at the near post.
It could have got worse for Hythe as Coxall saved well from Boulding and then Chapman shot wide. Sid Sollis did have an attempt for Hythe to limit the damage on the stroke of full-time but launched a shot high over the bar.
The Cannons, who dropped down to seventh place, must regroup from this very poor performance to improve before they entertain Ashford United next Saturday (6th April 2019) at Reachfields.
Team: Tony Coxall, Salvyn Kisitu, Makhosini Khanye (Tom Walmsley 78 mins), Chris Kinnear (Elliott Capel 4 mins), Ollie Rowe, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer (Jack Smith 78 mins), Tom Carlton, Zak Ansah, Sid Sollis, Kieron Campbell.
Scorers: East Grinstead Town – Greg Cundle 5 mins (pen) 44 mins & 57 mins, Mitchell Chapman 33 mins, Ollie Boulding 52 mins. Hythe Town – Kieron Campbell 39 mins, Zak Ansah 41 mins (pen).
Attendance: 133.