For the second week running the Cannons, despite keeping another clean sheet, failed to find the visitors net as they drew 0-0 with Sevenoaks Town at Reachfields on Saturday afternoon.

It was the hosts who had the majority of the opportunities in the first period but they failed to break down a resolute Sevenoaks defence. Hythe had their first attack on three minutes as Zak Ansah played the ball off to Kieron Campbell who screwed his final shot wide.

Chris Kinnear then had a long-range shot that drifted wide. Sevenoaks did create their first chance on ten minutes Alec Fiddes crossed into former Hythe favourite Kenny Pogue who looped his header into the arms of Hythe keeper George Kamurasi.

The pressure was still mainly coming from Hythe as Sevenoaks keeper Ben Bridle-Card managed to save in quick succession from Junior Aikhionbare and Ryan Palmer. The Cannons continued to press but their final efforts didn’t test Bridle-Card as Campbell fed Palmer but his shot was scuffed and was easily collect by the keeper.

Sevenoaks did have the occasional openings as the half progressed with Ryan Fowler pressing but his attempt went over the bar and then another former Hythe star Frankie Sawyer broke through but his final effort, off balance, went wide.

Hythe had their best attempt of the half on 34 minutes as Campbell threaded a ball through to Ansah who with the outside of his right foot forced Bridle-Card to tip the ball over the bar. This was followed by Nassim Dukali slamming the ball wide of the target.

Kamurasi had to be at his best to prevent Sevenoaks sneaking a goal as he saved full stretch from Dan Parkinson pushing the ball around the post. Deep into injury time Campbell had a shot that went straight at Bridle-Card.

The early pressure in the second half came from the visitors as Khanyne Makhojini pulled back from the left but he shot over and then at the other end Kinnear hit another long-range effort that didn’t test Bridle-Card.

Hythe were unlucky on 59 minutes as a cross from Palmer was headed down by Ollie Rowe but the defence blocked. Sevenoaks were then put on the back foot on 62 minutes as former Cannon, Dan Parkinson inexplicably kicked the ball away whilst on a yellow card. The referee produced another card and his afternoon was over and Sevenoaks were down to ten men.

However, Hythe continued to struggle to find openings but they did have a number of attempts on 76 minutes as several players had shots blocked before Jack Sammoutis fired wide in the end.

Ansah was to have one more shot for the Cannons but consistent with the rest of the afternoon the effort did not test Bridle-Card. As the game went into injury time Hythe were also reduced to ten men as Ryan Palmer was shown a second yellow card and any prospect of either side getting a winner was gone as the game petered out into a scoreless draw.

The continued strong performance from the defence is a real positive but the team must now look and reignite the goal scoring form from earlier in the season which has disappeared of late. They will have an opportunity to put things right as the team travels to VCD Athletic next Saturday. The game kicks off at 3pm.

Team: George Kamurasi, Salvyn Kisitu, Charlie Webster, Chris Kinnear, Ollie Rowe, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer, Jack Sammoutis, Zak Ansah, Junior Aikhionbare (Nassim Dukali 12 mins), Kieron Campbell.

Attendance: 253