A second half blitz from Paul Byron’s Phoenix Sports side literally saw the three “Pitching In” Isthmian League points disappearing up the M20 following a shocking Hythe Town second half capitulation.

After a first half where keeper Steve Phillips literally saved the visitors from a pounding, the visitors literally rose from the first half ashes with a second half blitz that left the Cannons bewildered, battered and in the end a well beaten side in a game that by rights at half time they should have been out of sight in.

The capitulation after the break will send massive alarm bells ringing for boss Steve Watt, yet his sides first half display would have delighted the coach in equal measures, football surely is a strange game!

Ironically, it was Phoenix who had the best early chance when Ben Fitchett on his return to Reachfields saw his thumping header magnificently tipped over by Hythe keeper Nathan Harvey.

The superlatives were then focused on the keeper at the other end when Phillips pulled off a series of stung saves and blocks to keep the score line blank at the break.

First the keeper got down well to hold onto Keka Dembele’s low shot; his cousin Nick then drove straight at the Phoenix stopper after holding off two defenders; Frannie Collin was next to be denied as Phillips dived to his left at full stretch to keep out the Hythe’s striker’s free kick, before Keka Dembele was denied twice in quick succession.

The first time by Phillips’ left boot and the as the move went back into the box, the keeper pulled off a finger tipped save to deny the number eleven his first goal of the season. When Phillips was beaten just before the break by Nick Dembele’s driven cross, the keeper was relieved to see Fitchett on hand to clear.

The second half was so different that in hindsight it was ridiculous! That said, the goal that Kweku Ansah scored to break the deadlock was as good as you’ll see anywhere this weekend, or perhaps even this season, a drive into the top corner out of absolutely nothing which gave Harvey no chance at all.

One soon became two and Fitchett did get his goal, but Harvey won’t want to see the replay too soon as the keeper failed to hold a ball into the box.

From being in a position of dominance, Hythe were stunned and had Harvey to thank for a brave save to deny the rampant Ansah and then to deny a swift break between Ansah and Lawris Chin.

It was only to delay what was proving to be more inevitable and when Zak Byron rammed home Ansah’s back heel (from Ainsley Everett’s super pass), the game was over.

The final nail came seven minutes from time when Chin was on hand to hammer Jeff Duah-Kessie’s through ball past a now hopelessly exposed Harvey!

If ever the phrase “game of two halves” was to be used for ninety minutes football it was surely this one. For the neutral, it was a treat, but for the two managers?

Paul Bryon will be the happier as his side climb to fifth in the fledgling table, whilst for Steve Watt, it really was a case of “watt” might have been!

HYTHE TOWN – Harvey, Smith, Gordon, Rogers, Beckwith, Wynter (Williamson), Webster (Walmsley), Oldaker (Brown), Nick Dembele, Collin, Keka Dembele

Subs – Trespaderne, Ihionvien

PHOENIX SPORTS – Phillips, Andrews, Clark, Byron, Young, Fitchett, Gaggin (Bird), Andrews (Whitelock), Everett, Ansah (Duah-Kessie), Chin

Subs – Aziaya, Dythe

REFEREE – Mr Fagg