Alfie May marked his final appearance for Hythe, before his transfer to Sky Bet League Two Doncaster Rovers is formally confirmed on New Year’s Day, by setting up Frankie Sawyer’s 34th minute opener for the home side. 

However, the perfect finish wasn’t forthcoming as Will Godmon denied May a goal he was desperate to record, and an attempted clearance
that rebounded off Jordan Casey into the Hythe net with ten minutes remaining meant that the points were shared.

Hythe’s manager Clive Cook had mixed emotions at the end of the day; pride that one of his players was moving into full-time football, but
apoplectic that his side hadn’t killed off the game.  Meanwhile, Clive Walker, the Faversham assistant manager (manager Ray Turner having
hurried from the ground to his night shift with the Fire Service) was relieved that their team had rescued a point, and had been motivated
following the first of two red cards in the closing minutes; Faversham’s Sam Bewick and Hythe’s Ryan Johnson.

The match started in a very open fashion, with both sides creating chances.  Matt Newman released Dean Grant on the left wing to earn the
first corner within 20 seconds of the kick-off, from which Craig Cloke almost converted.

Luke Harvey did well to hold off Nick Reeves’ challenge on the edge of the Hythe area and managed to get a shot on target, but straight at Joe Mant.  The keeper also had to be alert to hold a long-range shot from George Monger.  Mant’s opposite number, Will Godmon, also had to handle a long range effort from Sam Adams as Hythe started to edge the play.

The game became more of a midfield battle after 15 minutes and chances on goal were at a premium.  Adams finally dinked a ball over the
Faversham defence to find Alfie May’s run, but the forward’s shot was blocked by Godmon just as the offside flag was raised.

Hythe’s opener came after 34 minutes, and May turned provider in probably his last game for the Cannons.  Adams shimmied past Jordan
Casey and allowed May to take over, weaving his way through the left side of the area.  May’s pullback found Frankie Sawyer in space, with
time to chest the ball down before planting his shot past Godmon.

The Faversham keeper had to be at his best to deny May his 29th goal of the season from a 30-yard freekick.  May sent the ball curling over the wall, arrowing towards the top left corner, but the keeper managed to get across to palm away from the woodwork, and claim the follow-up before Sawyer could pounce.

Although Hythe had dominated most of the opening half without really creating a clear opportunity, Faversham started the second half much better.  Luke Harvey fired a freekick through a porous wall, but straight at Joe Mant.  The keeper’s long clearance released May in
behind Daniel Carrington, with Godmon advancing quickly off his line to smother May’s shot.

Hythe’s right-back, Jerald Aboagye, was having a solid game at both ends of the pitch, and his raiding run round the back of Jamie Maxted
set up a shot for former-Lillywhite Dean Grant, but once again, the shot was hit straight at Godmon.

Craig Cloke made a vital interception to deny Maxted a chance from a Faversham corner, but with fresh legs in midfield, the visitors were
starting to push Hythe deeper.  Josh Stanford ran through the middle of the park before shooting too close to Mant, and Monger had a similar run exploiting space, but his shot was off target.

Sawyer looped a header onto the stanchion behind the Faversham net from a cross whipped in by Josh Burchell, but with ten minutes remaining, Hythe were punished for their missed opportunites by Faversham’s equaliser.  Sam Bewick’s ball into the box wasn’t cleared properly.  Ryan Johnson tried to hammer the ball clear, but his attempt struck Jordan Casey and rebounded into the net before Mant could react; Monger later tried to claim the goal.

Within minutes, Bewick had flown into a rash tackle and received a straight red, and it appeared that Hythe had the chance to take the
points once more.  But being a man short seemed to inspire Harvey in particular, as the forward jinked past two Hythe challenges, although
his eventual shot was deflected through to Mant.

Hythe nearly found a winner as a Burchell cross found Liam King, and he was able to cut onto his left foot to fire a shot at Godmon.  This was to be the last clear chance as Ryan Johnson followed Bewick off the pitch, appearing to receive a yellow card followed by a red (although
no-one could remember Johnson receiving an earlier caution), and the game petered out.

Hythe remain in the final playoff place and can look forward to another Kent derby at Reachfields on Monday with Ramsgate, while Faversham will be making the short trip along the A299 to Herne Bay for their next match.

HYTHE TOWN: Joe Mant, Jerald Aboagye, Josh Burchell, Ryan Johnson, Craig Cloke, Nick Reeves, Matt Newman (Dave Cook 84), Sam Adams, Frankie Sawyer, Alfie May (Jay May 62), Dean Grant (Liam King 72).

Subs not used: Charlie Webster, Alex Mulrooney-Skinner.

Goal: Frankie Sawyer 34

Cautions: Josh Burchell 49, Ryan Johnson 89
Sent Off: Ryan Johnson 89

FAVERSHAM TOWN: Will Godmon, Ryan Cooper, Jamie Maxted, Daniel Carrington, Matt Bourne, Jack Steventon (Sam Bewick 58), Kieron Campbell (Josh Stanford 58), George Monger, Jordan Casey (Luke Griffiths 84), Luke Harvey, Renford Tenyue.

Subs not used: Ryan Cheek.

Goal: Jordan Casey 80

Cautions: Daniel Carrington 37, George Monger 39, Luke Harvey 90+4
Sent Off: Sam Bewick 82

Attendance: 326
Referee: Mr Michael Marsh
Assistants: Me Benjamin Bowles and Mr Peter Conn