Hythe came away from Saturday’s game with a lot of pride as they pushed the runaway leaders all the way.

The first 35 minutes Hythe dominated the game & if you were a neutral you would have been hard pressed to know which team were the leaders of the Division.

The game started well for Hythe as in the fourth minute they took the lead when Dan Stubbs was found in the area on the right & his low cross found James Morrish who controlled it & then stabbed in from six yards.

In the very next minute it could have been two as Shaun Welford beat the defender & got to the by-line & his low cross found Morrish but this time his shot went over the bar.  In the eleventh minute another chance went a begging as Josh Birchell’s free kick curled into the area avoiding anyone getting a touch on it.

Hythe continued to press & in the eighteenth minute Craig Thompson on the left retrieved the ball & then passed to Burchell whose shot from eighteen yards was saved by Anthony Di Bernardo.

Two minutes later John Walker making his 300^th appearance for Hythe volleyed a pass down the line for Welford to chase & he went into the area & his shot was parried away by Di Bernado, in the very next minute Danny Lye won a tackle just outside his area & then passed forward for Welford who latched onto it but shot over the bar.

Peacehaven were still in the game but not sure how but in the 35^th minute they had their first chance when a Josh Jones corner to the back post saw Craig Richards head just over the bar, then in the 41^st minute the warning signs came when another corner into the area saw Tom Burton head just wide & then in the 45^th minute they equalised when another corner to the back post found Sam Gargan who powered his header into the net unopposed.

Half time arrived & again team talks would be changed after that goal.

The second half started with Peacehaven on the front foot & in the 50^th minute Burton saw his snap shot go wide from fifteen yards.

In the very next minute Hythe nearly regained the lead when a Dan Stubbs free kick into the area found Welford’s volley hit the crossbar & went over for a goal kick.

In the 56^th minute dejavu happened as Peacehaven took the lead when a corner to the back post found Gargan who headed in despite a valiant effort from Tommy Osborne on the line.

We were now going to see why Peacehaven were top of the League as confidence grew & they showed why they are where they are.

In the 59^th minute Steve Metcalf received the ball & then from twenty yards saw his shot saved by Dan Eason.  Hythe were not down & out & continued to create chances albeit half ones as in the 62 minute when Eason’s long clearance found Thompson who flicked it on for Morrish but he shot wide from 18 yards.

Three minutes later it could or should have been game over as a cross to the back post found Gargan who looking for a hat trick volleyed wide.

Another chance came in the 67^th minute when Jon Marzetti on the left crossed into the area where Charlie Walker was but his effort went wide & then three minutes later a corner to the near post was flicked on for Don McLaughlin but his shot hit the bar.

In the 76^th minute Hythe had a chance to equalise when Thompson flicked on for Welford but his shot was saved by Di Bernardo, three minutes later another long ball forward saw Thompson knock it forward for Welford who beat the onrushing Di Bernardo but his shot was easily cleared away.

The last chance of the game came in the 86^th minute when a Jones free kick into the area was met by Burton whose powerful header was pushed over the bar by Eason

HYTHE TOWN:

1. D.EASON  2. J.WALKER  3. T.OSBORNE  4.G.ANDREWS (DEBUT )  5. C.CLOKE  6. D.LYE  7. D.STUBBS (85)

8. J.MORRISH  9. S.WELFORD  10. C.THOMPSON  11. J.BURCHELL (82)

SUBS USED:  14. J.COLLADO (82)  16. S.BEWICK (85)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. L.SPROSEN  15. L.WINFIELD  17. L.BLACKMAN

BOOKINGS: 6. D.LYE (60) 10.  C.THOMPSON  (57)

 

PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE:

1. A.DI BERNARDO  2. J.MARZETTI  3. S.METCALF  4. D. McLAUGHLIN  5. A.JONES  6. C.RICHARDS  7.  T.LAWLEY

8. S.GARGAN  9. C.WALKER (83)  10. T.BURTON  11. J.JONES

SUBS USED: 12.  J.BROTHERTON (83)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. B.GODFREY  16. W.EASON  17. W.MILLS 18. J.AMMOND

BOOKINGS: 3. D.McLAGHLIN (46)  8. S.GARGAN (53)  11. J.JONES (33)

 

REFEREE: Mr D.BONNYWELL

ASSISTANTS: Mr R.JOSS &  Mr M.MARSH

ATTENDANCE: 229