Hythe lost their eighth game in a row on Saturday afternoon, going 1-0 down against Phoenix Sports.

With his squad wearing thin due to injuries, interim manager Alex Flisher made three changes from Tuesday night’s hammering away to Three Bridges, as Josh Stirman, Josh Wisson and Aaron Barnes replaced Sam Itauma, Kai Garande and Josh Vincent, who were all unavailable.

The first chance went Hythe’s way on 11 minutes, when Jake Embery shifted the ball to Aaron Barnes, who played it to the onrushing Josh Wisson – his powerful first-time shot from just outside the box went just past the post. However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock two minutes later as a loose ball in the penalty area was tucked into the net by Ryan Hayes past former Phoenix stopper Steve Phillips.

The first half went on without any notable opportunities for either side until right at the end of the half, when Oscar Webb received a long ball and ran into the box, but went to the floor before he could get his shot away, as the calls for a penalty were waved away by referee Peter Conn.

In the second half, Hythe were inches away from equalising on 54 minutes through an Oscar Webb free kick from 25 yards out, which he placed onto the head of Josh Wisson, who nodded the ball narrowly wide of the post. On 65 minutes, it was almost 2-0 to Phoenix, when goal scorer Ryan Hayes managed to get a powerful shot on target from range which Steve Phillips had to react quickly to, catching the ball before it could go in. The last ten minutes of the match were played almost exclusively in the visitors’ own half as they struggled to clear the ball away, but Hythe were unable to do anything with the ball. One last hope for a point came in stoppage time, as Brad Schafer tried to break through the defence but was brought down just outside the box. Oscar Webb stepped up to take the free kick, blazing it over the bar.

The full-time whistle blew to mark another defeat for Hythe, but an important victory for Phoenix Sports, who are now guaranteed a place in next season’s Isthmian League South-East Division. Hythe are back in action on Tuesday night as they entertain Sittingbourne, who sit third in the table, at Reachfields at 7:45pm.

Team: Steve Phillips, Kian Garlinge, Bradley Schafer, Josh Wisson, Liam Smith, Harry Rowland, Aaron Barnes, Josh Stirman (Jack Steventon 79 mins), Johan Caney-Bryan, Oscar Webb, Jake Embery. Subs Unused: Lex Allan, Jarred Trespaderne, Sam Flisher, Ethan Smith.

Scorer: Phoenix Sports – Ryan Hayes 13 mins.

Yellow Card: Josh Stirman 45 + 2 mins.

Attendance: 159