Hythe were playing their second game in 48 hours & after a bruising encounter against Hastings they needed a win to keep their play-off hopes alive.

The game today was scrappy for the first 15 minutes then Hythe got into action when in the 18^th minute a ball forward was flicked on by Jack Harris for Frankie Sawyer in the area & from 15 yards his curling effort beat Kieron Thorp in the top right hand corner then two minutes later it was nearly two when Harris chasing a long ball down the right side & with Thorpe rushing out of his area Harris just beat him & the ball went goal wards & Sawyer from 6 yards headed goal wards but John Lansdale headed off the line.

A minute later & Ben Wilson tried his luck from 25 yards when his free kick was deflected for a corner. The rest of the half saw Hythe having plenty of possession without causing any problems whilst Three Bridges huffed & puffed but did not cause Joe Mant any problems.

The second half started with Hythe in control & in the 48^th minute they could have doubled their lead when Sawyer on the edge of the area slipped the ball through for Harris who from 6 yards saw his flicked shot saved by Thorp’s legs, another chance came two minutes clatter when Harris flicked on for Alfie May whose attempted lob was blocked by the onrushing Thorp.

Suddenly Three Bridges woke up & the next few minutes they had chances to equalise, firstly in the 51^st minute Sam MacVicar chasing down Wilson blocked his clearance & went into the area but his cross shot from an acute angle hit the sidenetting, then 2 minutes later MacVicar 25 yards out tried his luck again & this time forcing Mant to save, in the very next minute Hakeem Adelakun controlled a long ball & his shot from 20 yards went wide.

Hythe were now living on their nerves & then in the 56^th minute Hythe should have wrapped the game up when Sawyer controlled a cross field pass & passed forward for Wilson who got the by-line & his low cross found May but from 6 yards his flicked shot went over the bar.

In the 59^th minute Bridges nearly equalised when Drew Cooney went into the area & his cross found Callum Donaghey who headed it goal wards for Adelakun but from 5 yards his shot was saved by Mant’s legs.

As the game came to a close the Hythe Supporters were getting nervous as their team seemed to sit back encouraging the opposition to go forward but in the 81^st minute they nearly wrapped it up when a free kick to the far post found Craig Cloke & his shot from 6 yards was saved by Thorp.

The game had four minutes of added on time & the home supporters were getting nervous  but in the end they held out & now have to get them ready for Tuesday night’s game against Walton Casuals.

 

HYTHE TOWN:

1. MANT 2. C.HOOD  3. B.WILSON  4. D.BOTTERILL  5. C.CLOKE  6. N.REEVES  7. J.MAHONEY (23) 8. J.MORRISH (65) 9. F.SAWYER  10. A.MAY  11. J.HARRIS

SUBS USED:  16. W.THOMAS  14. D.MARSDEN (83)

SUBS NOT USED:   12. L.HARVEY   15. D.COOK  17. L.SPROSEN

BOOKINGS:  11. J.HARRIS (44)

 

THREE BRIDGES:

1. THORPE 2. J.LANSDALE  3.  M.WHITEHEAD  4. S.SARGENT  5.  N.BRAKE  6. D.COONEY  7. M.PULLING (79) 8. C.DONAGHEY 9. J.BROTHERTON  10. H.ADELAKUN (65)  11. S.MacVICAR

SUBS USED:  14. A.TOURAY (65)  15. M.CASSELMAN (79)

SUBS NOT USED:   12. M.DANIEL

BOOKINGS:  8. C.DONAGHEY (71)

 

REFEREE:  Mr M.GOLDSMITH

ASSISTANTS:  Mr M.BARNES  &  Mr P.CRUISE

ATTENDANCE: 168