Hythe Town cruised through to the second round of the Velocity Trophy as they thrashed Herne Bay in a 6-0 win at Winch’s Field on Tuesday evening.
It was Hythe who dominated the game throughout putting behind them their defeat against Herne Bay last week in the Kent Senior Cup. The Cannons had a golden opportunity to take the lead as early as the ninth minute when Charlie Webster was crudely brought down in the penalty area. Up stepped Nigel Neita who sent his kick wide of the upright. The Bay did have their first opportunity on twelve minutes when Jake Embury headed into the arms of keeper George Kamurasi. Neita had another effort for the visitors when he got on the end of a neat interchange between Keiron Campbell and Zak Ansah but his shot lacked power.
Hythe were in the ascendency as Campbell played the ball back to Jack Sammoutis but he shot straight at Bay keeper Jordan Beeney. The Cannons finally deservedly took the lead on 34 minutes as captain, Chris Kinnear threaded a ball neatly through to Ansah who nonchalantly stroked the ball home. Herne Bay did have couple of chances in quick succession as firstly a Danny Rumbol shot was blocked well by Kamurasi and then immediately after a Tom Carlton cross to Embery was held by the Hythe keeper. However it was Hythe who continued to dominate as a Sammoutis free kick was headed wide by Kinnear. One more chance for the Bay before the break saw a Bradley Schaffer headed over by Raphe Brown.
The second half was one-way traffic as Sammoutis had a shot easily gathered by Beeney but on 50 minutes Hythe were two up as Campbell fed Neita who slammed the ball home to make up for his earlier missed penalty. Ansah then played the ball to Salvyn Kisitu who blasted a shot into a crowd of players followed by Sammouts forcing Beeny to push the ball around the upright for a corner. Sammoutis, who was growing on confidence as the game progressed, put in substitute Junior Aikhionbare whose placed shot went just the wrong side of the post.
However Hythe were to increase their lead on 67 minutes and effectively seal the win as great run by Sammoutis who again fed the ball to Aikhionbare. He found Kisitu who blasted home from close range. A couple of chances for Bay to narrow the lead followed as firstly Carlton unleashed a shot that drifted wide and then Schaffer crossed into ex Hythe midfielder Alex Mulrooney-Skinner who hooked the ball over the bar. The Herne Bay defence crumbled in the last ten minutes as the Cannons ran riot. Firstly Aikhionbare moved and slotted the ball home after 80 minutes. Herne Bay did have a couple of further chances as Sami Mezaine was disposed brilliantly by Mitchell Dickenson before he could get his attempt away and then he slammed the ball into the side netting.
But Hythe were to continue their goal feast as on 87 minutes Aikhionbare picked up the ball on the edge of the area and sent his effort into the corner of the net and then Sammoutis has shot well saved by Beeney. The icing on the cake came a minute into injury time as Sammoutis was rewarded for his efforts as he raced through and slammed his shot home.
It was magnificent team performance from the Cannons where every player played their part in the result that takes them through to a home fixture against Bognor Regis Town in the 2nd Round. Hythe can now look forward with confidence to Saturday’s league fixture away at Cray Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
Hythe Team: George Kamurasi, Salvyn Kisitu, Aziz Lyoubi, Chris Kinnear (Charlie Owen 70 mins), Nathan Daly, Mitchell Dickenson, Jack Sammoutis, Charlie Webster, Zak Ansah (Junior Aikionbare 58 mins), Nigel Neita (Euan Sahadow 68 mins), Keiron Campbell.
Scorers: Zak Ansah 35 mins, Nigel Neita 51 mins, Salvyn Kisitu 67 mins, Junior Aikhionbare 80 &87 mins, Jack Sammoutis 90 mins.
Attendance: 155