Guernsey are indebted to an excellent goalkeeping performance from Guernsey’s Callum Stanton who prevented the Cannons from gaining a victory in a 1-1 draw at Reachfields on Saturday.

Hythe almost had a piece of good luck on six minutes as a clearance rebounded off Charlie Webster but it went straight into the arms of Stanton and then on ten minutes the Islanders had their first opportunity as a cross from Thomas De La Mere found Paris Pereira in the clear in front of goal but he fired wide when he really should have hit the target. The majority of the pressure at this stage was coming from the hosts as Ryan Palmer got onto the ball on the edge of the area but he looped his shot over the bar and then debutant Tom Carlton, who impressed on his first appearance for Hythe, sent in a dangerous cross that was caught by Stanton at full stretch before a Hythe player could convert.

Sid Sollis, back in a Hythe shirt, looked lively and on a quarter of an hour crossed into Carlton who pushed the ball wide. There were still chances coming at the other end as a shot from Thomas De La Mere curled over the bar. However, Hythe kept up the pressure as a Sollis cross saw attempts by Zak Ansah blocked twice and then Webster cut in but the sent ball straight at Stanton. Hythe keeper Tony Coxall who was replacing the unavailable George Kamurasi, smothered a speculative shot from Liam Mahon. Palmer was then to put in a neat ball to Ansah but the ball was blocked away for a corner.

Hythe were ahead on 27 minutes as Chris Kinnear fed the ball over to Sollis whose hooked shot flew into the net giving Stanton no chance to mark his welcome return to Reachfields. Another shot from long range for Guernsey from William Fazakerley went high and wide but the visitors were level on 37 minutes as Carlos Canha found Matt Loaring who came through and finished neatly to make it 1-1. There was little more action goal mouth action in the rest of the half.

The second period started with Hythe on the attack as a searching Sollis cross was cleared as the strikers came in and then on the hour at the other end a corner from Mahon found Thomas Dodds whose attempt missed the target. However, the majority of the chances were coming for the Cannons as Palmer got the ball across to Ansah but he couldn’t quite get to the ball before it reached substitute Kieron Campbell who forced Stanton to save. Stanton was to save again as Dickenson passed into Campbell whose shot was palmed away and then a cross from Palmer found Salvyn KIsitu who again was denied by excellent keeping from Stanton.

As the clock ticked down Mitchell Dickenson pushed forward and shot wide from 25 yards and then Carlton played the ball out to the left to Campbell who forced another save from Stanton. However, Hythe had to continue to concentrate at the back as Guernsey still had the odd threat that could have stolen all three points as in injury time Periera broke through but pulled his attempt wide. Both sides had to settle for a point each in the end.

Hythe showed improvement from their last outing and remain in seventh just in touching distance of the play-off places as they look forward to a difficult match next Saturday as they travel to Lancing to play Horsham.

Team: Tony Coxall, Salvyn Kisitu, Joey Taylor (Kieron Campbell 51 mins), Chris Kinnear (Jack Sammoutis 76 mins), Ollie Rowe, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer (Nigel Neita 90 mins), Tom Carlton, Zak Ansah, Sid Sollis, Charlie Webster.

Scorers: Hythe Town – Sid Sollis 27 mins. Guernsey – Matt Loaring 37 mins.

 

Attendance: 228