The Cannons were “brought down to earth with a bang” on Tuesday evening as they met a well organised Canterbury City who deservedly won 3-1 at a very warm Reachfields.

Hythe started brightly as a neat interchange on four minutes ended with Zak Ansah shooting over the target. However it was Canterbury who began to take the initiative as James Turner turned and shot but his close range attempt was blocked by Hythe keeper Tommy Taylor. Canterbury were ahead on 14 minutes as former Hythe midfielder Dave Pilcher unleashed a shot from 20 yards that flew into the top corner giving Taylor no chance.

With Canterbury without usual keeper Jack Delo, stand-in Tom Benham had an excellent evening as he saved at full stretch from Ansah after he received the ball from Ryan Palmer. Kieron Campbell was then denied by Canterbury’s defence, well marshalled by ex Hythe favourite Laurence Harvey and Gary Sayer, as he had a shot deflected away for a corner. On 29 minutes the visitors should have been two ahead as a mix-up in the Hythe defence ended with a shot from Rob Lawrence, who was clear, directed straight at Taylor.

Jack Sammoutis did threaten for the Cannons but he shot straight at Benham and then at the other end Turner looped the ball onto the top of the Hythe cross bar. Benham was then to deny Sammoutis before Canterbury went further ahead on 39 minutes as a Turner corner was met by Harvey who slammed his header into the net.

There was further woe for the hosts eight minutes into the second half as Josh Froggatt picked up a loose ball and fired an excellent shot into the Hythe net. With the game now almost out of reach for the Cannons they did improve with two chances in quick succession for Ansah. He firstly broke in from the right but curled his attempt the wrong side of the upright and then he turned and lifted the ball over the bar. Chances were coming and going for Hythe as Sammoutis forced a save from Benham with the follow up being headed against the post by Mitchell Chapman.

The Canterbury defence remained solid as Benham was forced into another fine reaction save as Charlie Webster headed towards goal. The hosts were to get a consolation on 81 minutes as defender Mitchell Dickenson met a corner and headed home to narrow the deficit. There were two more chances to narrow the gap as Dickenson landed a shot over the bar and then Ansah fed the ball to Charlie Owen whose attempt went wide.

It had been a “rude awakening” for Hythe following the excellent win the previous Saturday but his game will provide useful learning points as they move onto an away game at Romford on Saturday afternoon.

Team: Tommy Taylor, Michael Turner, Charlie Webster, Chris Kinnear, Mitchell Chapman, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer, Junior Aikhionbare, Zak Ansah, Jack Sammoutis, Keiron Campbell. Subs: Ben Gorham, Salvyn Kisitu, Josh Stirman, Charlie Owen, Kane Phillip, Aziz Lyoubi, Jack Negas.

Scorers: Hythe Town-Mitchell Dickenson 81 mins. Canterbury City-Dave Pilcher 14 mins, Laurence Harvey 39 mins, Josh Froggatt 53 mins.

Attendance 141.