Darren Oldaker’s stunning strike from the edge of the box edged a tight and fierce local derby as Hythe Town edged out hard-working Herne Bay by the game’s only goal.

Oldaker’s drive came just after half time after Alex Brown’s ball to the edge of the box picked out the ex-Gillingham midfielder, who’s shot gave Bay keeper George Kamurasi no chance from twenty yards.

Sadly, it wasn’t a first half that will live long in the memory as both sides strained in front of goal and really getting into their stride.

It was the Bay almost took an early lead when Hythe keeper Nathan Harvey lost the ball to Zak Ansah who was only denied by the referee’s whistle. Tom Walmsley then got to the line only to beat Kamurasi with the pull back and the keeper was relieved to see Laurence Harvey clear off the line.

Bradley Stevenson saw a drive swing the wrong side of the post and that attacking wise in the first half was that!

The second half began with Oldaker’s goal almost out of the blue as it was a terrific piece of skill that until that point was so out of character for the hurly burly of this Kent derby!

Kamurasi then pulled off a great block to deny Dean Beckwith but looked on as Alex Brown tried to force the rebound home but hit the outside of the left post from an acute angle.

Bay finally rallied and came agonisingly close to levelling the scores as substitute Anthony Edgar beat Harvey only to see his shot crash away off the Hythe crossbar.

Hythe sub Alex Flisher then tried an audacious attempt to lob Kamurasi from inside the centre circle, but the giant keeper was more than equal to the task, and whilst the Bay huffed and puffed as they searched for the equaliser.

It was Hythe who carried the greater threat going forward, the Bay keeper pulled off a stunning reaction save to deny a flicked header the best one, before there were loud shouts for a home penalty when the ball bounced up and hit Harvey on the hand.

In another League and with VAR, a spot kick would almost certainly have ridiculously been given – fortunately, there wasn’t a video referral in sight and referee McKay rightly waved away the appeals.

The most troubling thing for Bay boss Ben Smith will surely be the lack of clear chances that his side made, whilst for Hythe boss Steve Watt will surely take a rough, tough performance in a dug out win as opposed to a terrific game of football seven days ago had seen inexplicably lose four nil to Phoenix in a game that they more than deserved to get something out of – football really is a strange game!

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

Subs – Ibbertson & Trespaderne

HERNE BAY – Kamurasi, Cooper (Hibbert), Kamara, Harvey, Johnson, Lawrence, Walters, Carlton (Grant), Ansah, Campbell (Edgar), Stevenson

Subs – Adonis-Taylor & Dawodu

REFEREE – Mr McKay