In the local derby between two Kent sides in the Ryman South, it was Faversham Town that edged past Hythe Town.
On Saturday Hythe Town and Faversham faced each other for the third time this season, the last fixture between the two teams came in October when the seasiders outplayed their opponents on the way to a 5-0 thrashing in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup, however, the last time the two teams played each other in the league was in the second week of the season with Hythe winning 3-2.
Faversham were desperate to turn their fortunes against their Kent rivals around after a good run of form, allowing them to reach 6th in the Ryman league division one south whilst the hosts were stuck in mid table after an inconsistent season so far.
Despite a slow start to the game it was Hythe who had the first big chance of the game. After captain Dave Cook was tripped on the edge of the area Taser Hassan powered the free kick through the wall, after deflecting off a Faversham player it took great reflexes from the visitor’s goalkeeper Simon Overland to push the ball away from his goal but into the path of the incoming John Walker, but the defender was unable to convert his effort from two yards out to the dismay of the home fans.
Hythe continued to pressure their Kent rivals, and Lee Winfield came close with a header soon after. Winfield was able to get in front of the goalkeeper’s reach, but his header at the near post went inches wide.
It wasn’t long before the home team’s chances gave them the lead. After a magnificent run down the right wing, Hassan was able to get a low cross into the Faversham penalty area. The muddy pitch made the ball bounce as two defenders swiped at it to get it away, but he ball fell to Shaun Welford who was able to place the ball over the head of Overland to put Hythe ahead.
Faversham came straight back through, Darren Marsden decided to take on the entire Hythe defence after the goal, but he ran out of space as he reached the penalty area and was forced to take a quick, weak shot which was saved by Dan Eason.
Faversham continued to attack and after a long ball from the defence Luke Harvey beat the offside trap leaving him one- on- one with Eason, the pitch came to the host’s rescue though as the ball stopped in the penalty area giving time for their defenders to catch up with the striker, whose shot was well saved.
The visitors were back in the game soon after, some good, quick passing in midfield left Harvey with the ball, who was able to turn past his marker to slot the ball through Dan Eason’s legs to give his side some confidence going into half time.
Faversham came out for the second half significantly later than their counterparts, but with ray turner’s words still running through his player’s heads they scored a quick goal straight after the break. David Botterill’s free kick, carried by the wind was flung into the area and fell into a crowd of players, after shots from John Scarborough, Luke Harvey and Darren Marsden, Brendon Cass was able to convert at the fourth time of asking to give Faversham a 2-1 lead.
Hythe were making the game difficult for themselves, after losing the ball in midfield Faversham’s Luke Harvey found himself rushing towards goal. After beating two defenders his low shot across the goalkeeper was well saved.
The game turned very scrappy after this, the nature of the game became a little too much for some players, but the referee decided to keep his cards in his pocket leaving the players to wonder what they could get away with. A number of outbursts ensued with a heated argument between a number of players going without acknowledgement from the officials.
Hythe’s final chance of the game was controversial; after another good run from Hassan his cross was blocked by Jamie Maxter, but the home bench’s strong call for deliberate handball were waved away leaving Hythe to wonder what could have been.
Faversham return to Salters Lane with all three points, putting them into 5th in the table, whilst Hythe stay in 11th. Hythe’s next game will be on December 17th when they travel to Sittingbourne whilst Faversham need to wait until next weekend when they host 4th placed Walton Casuals.
Hythe Town: Eason, Cooper, Osborne, Kingwell, Walker, Burchell (Webb), Cook, Morrish, Welford (Blackman), Winfield, Hassan
Subs not used: White, Carey
Faversham Town: Overland, Lacy, Maxter, Sherlock, Bourne, Scarborough, Marsden, Botterill, Cass, Harvey (Hockton), Tenyue (Brown)
Booked: Maxter
Subs not used: king, Ashmere, Groombridge