Hythe were victorious on the opening day of the season as they comfortably beat East Grinstead Town 4-0 at Reachfields.
The Cannons lined up with a fairly similar team to last season, as seven players from last season’s play-off final started the match, along with new signings Adam Molloy, Brad Schafer, Aaron Barnes and Jake Embery.
It was a perfect start for the Cannons, as they took the lead after just two minutes, with Jack Steventon’s long throw in being knocked onto Aaron Barnes, who guided the ball into an empty goal.
The visitors very nearly made it 1-1 on 21 minutes, as Max Walsh darted forward on the counterattack, squaring it to Kiye Martin, who blasted his shot wide of the post from close range.
Hythe managed to score their second on 33 minutes, when Ethan Smith rushed forward on the counterattack and slotted past Matte Pierson in the East Grinstead goal. It was Ethan’s brother Liam who put the Cannons 3-0 up in the fourth minute of added time, glancing a header in from a Frannie Collin corner.
In the very first minute of the second half, the visitors had a good chance to get back into the game, as Connor Tighe strode forward and lifted his shot above Adam Molloy and onto the crossbar.
However, it didn’t take long for Hythe to extend their lead, as Brad Schafer recieved the ball on the edge of the box on 53 minutes, skipping past the defenders and hitting a pinpoint shot past the goalkeeper. On 63 minutes, the Cannons had a chance to make it five, when Frannie Collin stepped up to take a free kick, which he drove past the wall before it was tipped away by Matte Pierson.
On 83 minutes, Hythe had one final chance to add to the goals, when Johan Caney-Bryan had the ball in the box, firing his shot over the bar from close range.
Speaking after the match, manager Steve Watt said ‘East Grinstead are a good side, they’ve made some good additions to their team this year and they always pose a threat. I just thought today our intensity was too much for them at times with the way we set the tone, particularly from the front players, and how they pressed from the front.
“East Grinstead couldn’t get a foothold in the game – we scored in key moments, and we obviously got the goal straight away, but we kept pushing and I thought in the end we ran over them a bit, with no disrespect to East Grinstead. I thought everyone was outstanding, if I was to mark all of our players out of ten I’d struggle to mark anyone below eight.
“I thought the front three were outstanding, I really feel for Jake [Embery] and Johan [Caney-Bryan] because I think they deserved a goal. Ethan [Smith] was Ethan, he was everywhere, Brad Schafer playing out of position got his goal that he deserved, and we have seen what he will offer to the team.
“Aaron Barnes is just class, he’s as smooth as silk, and he gave us that element of calmness and quality on the ball today. It was a great performance, but it’s just one performance.’
The Cannons are back in action on Saturday 19th August as they face East Grinstead once again, this time away in the FA Cup, with the match kicking off at 3pm.
Team: Adam Molloy, Liam Smith, Marcus Goldsmith, Jack Steventon, Lex Allan (Sam Itauma 61 mins), Bradley Schafer, Aaron Barnes (Jarred Trespaderne 81 mins), Ethan Smith (Sam Flisher 81 mins), Johan Caney-Bryan, Frannie Collin, Jake Embery.
Scorers: Hythe Town – Aaron Barnes 2 mins, Ethan Smith 33mins, Liam Smith 45 mins, Bradley Schafer 53 mins.
Attendance: 271.