Hythe came back from a goal behind to take all three points against a lively Herne Bay at Winch’s Field on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

The game started evenly with both sides having chances in the early minutes. The Bay were first to threaten after only 60 seconds as John Wisson sent the ball high over the bar from 20 yards. At the other end Keiron Campbell cut in from the left but his shot went straight at Herne Bay keeper Ben Hunter. Campbell created the next opportunity as he fed the ball into Ryan Palmer who fired across the face of the goal and away for a goal kick.

The Bay had a similar attempt on 12 minutes as the ever-dangerous Tom Carlton drove wide. The Bay took the lead on 16 minutes as Danny Leonard broke through but his first attempt was blocked by Hythe keeper Will Godmon but he followed up on the rebound to plant the ball in the back of the net.

Darren Oldaker did threaten to bring the scores level but his free kick from the edge of the area went just wide. Bay had two chances to increase their lead as firstly Carlton forced a save from Godmon and then Connor Sanders was able to clear off the Hythe line when Connor Wilkins slammed in a header. Hythe began to look brighter as the half progressed with Palmer crossing into Liam King whose header was saved brilliantly by Hunter. On 40 minutes the Cannons were level as Oldaker got the ball to Zak Ansah who passed into the path of Chris Kinnear who moved in from the right sliding the ball home. One more chance for Hythe before the break saw Ansah feed King who curled his effort wide of the target.

The visitors had the best of the early exchanges of the second half as after 48 minutes Kinnear had a shot that was deflected into the arms of Hunter. A Palmer cross was met by King but his header looped over Hunter but also over the bar. A melee followed in the Bay area which finally saw an Ansah effort cleared away. The pressure continued as Ansah cut in and sent the ball wide and then another Oldaker free-kick this time sailed over the bar.

On the hour Godmon denied Carlton and soon after Bay were unlucky not to regain the lead as a Carlton corner was met by captain Ben Gorham who thumped his header against the cross bar. Hunter was then to save twice once from Ansah and then from a free kick from Oldaker.

The game was going from end to end with Godmon blocking a Wilkins attempt and then at the other end a Palmer cross was met by Campbell whose attempt was blocked by Hunter. However, Hythe were to get the winner on 81 minutes as Sanders looped the ball over to Zak Ansah who made no mistake and headed home his eight goal in the last five games.

There was one last effort from the hosts a minute later as substitute Raphe Brown rammed a shot against the base of the right-hand post. Hythe did have a chance to extend their lead deep into injury time as King charged forward and with only the keeper to beat he pushed the ball wide.

Hythe had done enough to gain all three points and close to gap to four points from the definite play-off places as they next travel to high flying Greenwich Borough on Saturday hoping to continue their great run.

Hythe team: Will Godmon, Salvyn Kisitu, Charlie Webster (Michael Turner 51 mins), Chris Kinnear, Ryan Johnson, Connor Sanders, Ryan Palmer, Darren Oldaker (Mitchell Chapman 90 mins), Zak Ansah, Liam King, Kieron Campbell.

Scorers: Herne Bay-Danny Leonard 16 mins. Hythe Town-Chris Kinnear 40 mins, Zak Ansah 81 mins.

Attendance: 318