This wasn’t the prettiest three points that will be won this season but the Cannons had to battle hard to win 2-0 at home on Saturday afternoon against a Whitstable Town team who ended the game with only nine men.
It was Hythe who started very brightly with Junior Aikhionbare causing real problems for the Whitstable defence. He was to create Hythe’s first goal with their first attack of the game after just five minutes. He laid the ball off to Zak Ansah who sweetly curled the ball from the edge of the area into the top right-hand corner of the net. Aikhionbare continued as he fed the ball to Kieron Campbell but his attempt went the wrong side of the post. Aikhionbare then had his own opportunity on 18 minutes as he worked his way in from the left and fired a shot that Whitstable keeper, Dan Eason pushed around the post and away for a corner.
The visitors had to wait until the twentieth minute for their first effort as former Hythe favourite James Morrish played the ball to another ex-Cannon Louis Sporson but his attempt was blocked by Hythe keeper George Kamurasi who was returning from injury. Danny Williams got onto the resultant loose ball but Kamurasi saved again. In the confusion that followed Whitstable’s Stephen Smith saw red for adjudged violent conduct. Hythe tried to make use of the man advantage as Ryan Palmer forced a save from Eason and then he played the ball across to Aikhionbare whose header was blocked by a defender.
Hythe continued to dominate without breaking down a stoic Whitstable defence and on 34 minutes an Ansah shot was blocked by Eason. The hard-working Charlie Webster sent in a drive that forced Eason to push the ball over the bar. Whitstable did have an opportunity on 37 minutes but Williams pulled a shot well wide. However, the last two chances of the half came from Ansah as he firstly side-footed a shot into the arms of Eason and then on the stroke of half-time he lifted the ball over the bar.
The pattern of the second half started with Hythe on the attack as Campbell sent a shot wide and then a Dickenson long ball through found Palmer but he too sent the ball wide of the target. The pressure continued with Chris Kinnear hitting a shot straight at Eason and then Campbell forced his way through but again sent his effort wide. On 67 minutes Webster played the ball through to Ansah who attempted to lob Eason but the ball also went over the cross bar. Whitstable were packing the defence and looking to catch Hythe on the break but the home defence dealt well with these attacks. Morrish looked dangerous as he sent in a header but Webster did well to get himself in the way.
However, the chances were mainly coming for Hythe as Eason who had an excellent game denied Campbell, Ansah and Jack Sammoutis in quick succession. With seven minutes left things were made even more difficult for the Oystermen as a reckless challenge from behind from Morrish on Kinnear saw him receive a second yellow card and Whitstable were reduced to nine men. There was one more chance for Whitstable to get back in the game as Charlie Smith curled a free-kick from five yards outside the penalty area but it went well wide of the target.
Then, with the last move of the game Hythe got their second as Salvyn Kisitu sent a long clearance out of defence finding Campbell who headed over Eason and followed the ball tapping it into an empty net.
This was a deserved victory as Hythe ended their poor recent run and remain in seventh place. They now have a two week break until their next game at home to Haywards Heath Town on Saturday 12th January 2019.
Team: George Kamurasi, Salvyn Kisitu, Elliott Capel, Chris Kinnear, Nathan Daly, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer (Jack Sammoutis 67 mins), Charlie Webster, Zak Ansah, Junior Aikhionbare (Nassim Dukali 79 mins), Kieron Campbell.
Scorers: Hythe Town-Zak Ansah 5 mins, Kieron Campbell 90 mins.
Attendance: 407