Hythe had to battle back from being reduced to nine men as they drew 1-1 against a young Guernsey team at Footes Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The game started with the Islanders looking the brighter as a looping cross after two minutes was headed wide of the target. However, the Cannons began to settle as a dangerous Ryan Palmer cross was deflected onto the post and away. Another attack followed on six minutes as a Ben Wilson cross was tipped away by Guernsey keeper Will Dennis with the ball going out to Mitchell Dickenson who headed wide. After only ten minutes Hythe were reduced to ten men as a reckless challenge from Will Thomas on Keanu Marsh resulted in the young Hythe defender being shown red in only the tenth minute.

However, it was Hythe who were the next side to threaten as a Dean Grant cross was tapped wide by Jerson Dos Santos. This was followed by a long-range effort from Kieron Campbell that flew wide of the target. Guernsey were to take the lead on 16 mins as Ben Wilson was adjudged to have brought down Marsh and up stepped captain Craig Young who slammed the ball home. The hosts could have increased their lead on 36 minutes as cross from Carlton Gauvain was met by Dave Rihoy whose glancing header went wide. One more attempt in the half saw Gauvain move in from the right but he sent his final effort high and wide of the target.

The second period saw Hythe dominate possession but were not able to create any meaningful chances until on the hour Jerald Aboagye threaded the ball through to Campbell but his eventual shot was easily blocked. Guernsey did press at times but never really tested Hythe keeper Will Godmon. They had a shot after 69 minutes that drifted well wide.  Substitute Jordan Johnson-Palmer got the ball through to Dos Santos who blasted high over the bar. Aboagye was then to get through but his final effort scratched the outside of the post and into the side netting.

Then came the controversial incident that could have finished the afternoon for the Cannons as Dos Santos who was just returning from a three-match ban appeared to have been brought down just outside the penalty area. However, the referee saw it as a dive and gave Dos Santos a second yellow card and Hythe were reduced to nine men.

Hythe showed character as they searched for an unlikely equaliser. Ryan Palmer curled a free-kick wide and then at the other end substitute Paris Pereira had a snap-shot that he also curled wide. The Cannons were to get the goal that would secure them a point after 80 minutes as a Palmer corner from the right was met by Dickenson who hammered his header home for his second goal of the season. There was a chance for each side in injury time to get a late winner as firstly Young curled the ball over the Hythe bar and then a Wilson corner went right across the face of the goal with nobody able to get in the right position to convert.

Hythe’s nine men had got a point that seemed unlikely when they received a second red card. They will now have to look forward to New Years Day as they entertain Herne Bay to get back into winning ways. Kick off at Reachfields is 3pm.

Team: Will Godmon, Jerald Aboagye, Ben Wilson, Ryan Johnson (Charlie Webster 87 mins), Mitchell Dickenson, Will Thomas, Dave Cook, Ryan Palmer (Mitchell Chapman 81 mins), Dean Grant, Jerson Dos Santos, Kieron Campbell (Jordan Johnson-Palmer 64 mins).

Scorers: Guernsey-Craig Young 16 mins (pen). Hythe Town-Mitchell Dickenson 80 mins.

Attendance: 589