Hythe and Horsham battled hard as the game ended in a 1-1 draw at a bitterly cold Reachfields on Saturday afternoon.

Horsham were to take a very early lead on two minutes as Alfie Rogers hit a shot from the edge of the area which seemed to be covered by Hythe keeper Will Godmon but he fumbled the ball and it crossed the line to open the scoring. The Cannons had to wait until the eighth minute before their first effort as Kieron Campbell moved in from the left and fired wide of the target. On 14 minutes Ryan Palmer sent in a cross that tested Horsham keeper Josh Pelling who off balance managed to palm the ball away. Horsham counter-attacked with the final effort from Toby House rattling against the cross bar.

There were chances coming at both ends as Horsham’s Charlie Farmer headed over the bar and Chris Kinnear, at the other end, pounced on a loose ball which he sent just the wrong side of the upright. As the half progressed it was the hosts who were looking the more likely as Darren Oldaker came in from the left but scooped his effort over the bar but he was to bring the scores level as Hythe were awarded a free-kick just outside the area. Oldaker’s kick curled around the wall into the corner of the net with Pelling getting nowhere near the ball. One more chance for the Cannons, one minute into injury time at the end of the first half, as a Charlie Webster free-kick was met by Kinnear whose attempt forced a save from Pelling.

The second half started with Hythe on the attack as Oldaker curled a free kick the wrong side of the post. However, the visitors were still causing problems as a header from Farmer went straight into Godmon’s arms. Campbell then fired a shot into the Horsham penalty area but Ryan Worrall was able to get his body in the way and the ball deflected for a corner. The game was going from end to end as Tom Tolfrey broke through but despite having options he chose to shoot. His effort went wide. The ever-dangerous Campbell created the next chance as he cut in from the left but his curling attempt drifted wide.

Horsham were picking up the pace and Farmer sent a snap shot over the bar and then Rogers broke in forcing Ryan Johnson to produce a superb covering tackle to prevent any attempt on goal. Then came the controversial moment of the game as Kinnear and Scott Kirkwood met in what looked like a fifty-fifty challenge. As Kirkwood went down injured, the home crowd watched in disbelief as the referee produced a red card for Kinnear. It will be interesting to see the challenge in the video of the game to make a judgement. Hythe were able hold on with ten men and did create a chance in injury time as Palmer turned and shot forcing a save from Pelling.

Hythe remain in seventh place now six points outside the play-offs. Next Saturday, weather permitting, the Cannons travel to Molesey for another league fixture.

Team: Will Godmon, Salvyn Kisitu, Charlie Webster, Chris Kinnear, Ryan Johnson, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer, Darren Oldaker, Zak Ansah, Jerson Dos Santos (Michael Turner 82 mins), Kieron Campbell.

Scorers: Hythe Town-Darren Oldaker 29 mins. Horsham-Alfie Rogers 2 mins.

Attendance: 218.