Hythe were humbled by a 2-0 defeat at home to Tunbridge Wells in a friendly fixture at Reachfields on Saturday afternoon.

Tunbridge Wells seemed to show more desire in the game and were ahead on seven minutes as Jamie Humphris was brought down in the Hythe penalty area. He got up and slammed home the resultant penalty sending Stefan Lawrence who was covering for Ryan Nicholls in the home goal the wrong way. Hythe did have their closet opportunity of the game on twenty minutes as Junior Aikhionbare headed a Keiron Campbell cross onto the top of the cross bar. It was however Lawrence who denied the Wells strike force as in the 33^rd minute he made a great save from an attempt from Nassim Ducali.

The pattern of the game in the second half did not change and it was the Southern Counties East outfit who looked the more likely. Lawrence made another great save on 50 minutes from substitute Steve Harper with the rebound blasted over by Josh Biddlecombe and then the keeper blocked well an attempt from Ola Williams. The hosts best effort of the half came from Salvyn Kisitu who fired an attempt just wide. However, it was the Wells who sealed the win on 77 minutes as Harper slammed home from a cross to make it 2-0.

The game was a useful training exercise and the Cannons must now concentrate on serious cup action on Tuesday evening (27^th August 2018) as they entertain Burgess Hill Town in the Velocity Trophy 3^rd Round. Kick off at Reachfields is 7:45 pm.

Team: Stefan Lawrence (Alistair Carney 84 mins), Jack Negus (Charlie Owen 56 mins), Aziz Lyoubi, Charlie Webster (Joe Theze 89 mins), Salvyn Kisitu, Mitchell Dickenson (Nathan Daly 45 mins), Nigel Neita, Elliott Capel, Junior Aikhionbare (Billy Lewins 62 mins), Zak Ansah, Keiron Campbell.

 

Scorers: Jamie Humphris 7 mins (pen), Steve Harper 77 mins.

 

Attendance 125