There was little Christmas joy at Reachfields as Hythe produced a disappointing performance as they went down 3-1 at home to Phoenix Sports on Saturday afternoon.

The first quarter of hour saw very little goal mouth excitement as both sides tested each other out creating very few chances. It was however Phoenix who created the first chances of the half as firstly on 19 minutes Christie Pattison fed the ball to Kweku Ansah whose rasping shot was well blocked by Hythe keeper Will Godmon. On 20 minutes a searching corner from Ashley Probets was headed over by Jack Barry but the referee was blowing for an infringement. However, the next attack on 26 minutes Ansah put Jeff Duah-Kessie through. He pushed the ball past Godmon and then followed the ball into the net to give the visitors the lead.

The Cannons had to wait until half an hour in before they threatened as a Ben Wilson corner from the left found Ryan Johnson at the near post and he back heeled the ball into the arms of Phoenix keeper, Steve Phillips.  At the other end Phoenix still looked dangerous as a Probets cross found Danny Young who looped his header into the arms of Godmon. Sid Sollis was then to break through for Hythe but as he rounded Phillips, the keeper got his hand to the ball to prevent a goal.

Godmon had to be at his best on 40 minutes as Tony Robinson threaded the ball to Pattisson but the Hythe keeper came out well to block. However, Phoenix were not to be denied and extended their lead a minute later as an initial save from Godmon came out to Gil Carvalho played the ball to Robinson who side footed home from close range.  Hythe were gifted a goal on the stroke of half time to give them hope as Kieron Campbell weaved his way into the penalty area from the left and his final cross was diverted home by Phoenix defender Jack Hopkins.

The second half started with a similar opportunity at both ends as firstly new signing Warren Mfula, who joined the club this week on dual registration with Dartford, pulled a shot wide and then within a minute Pattisson did the same at the other end. A couple of chances followed for the visitors as firstly Probets scooped a free kick high over the bar and then he crossed into Young who headed over the bar.

Phoenix were unlucky not to extend their lead on 73 minutes as Duah-Kessie unleashed a shot that crashed against the cross bar. Then came the move that eventually took the game out of the Cannons grasp as on the counter attack Ansah fired home on the stroke of full time.

It was a miserable afternoon for the Cannons who dropped into eighth place and must now regroup quickly for their tie at Ramsgate on Boxing Day.

Team: Will Godmon, Jerald Aboagye, Ben Wilson, Ryan Johnson, Mitchell Dickenson, Jordan Johnson-Palmer, Dave Cook, Ryan Palmer (Charlie Webster 67 mins), Warren Mfula (Dean Grant 70 mins), Sid Sollis, Kieron Campbell.

Scorers: Hythe Town-Jack Hopkins (OG) 45 mins. Phoenix Sports-Jeff Duah-Kessie 26 mins, Tony Robinson 41 mins, Kweku Ansah 90 mins.

Attendance: 165