Hythe were victorious on a cold Saturday afternoon at Reachfields against Broadbridge Heath.

Steve Watt made just one change from Tuesday night’s win over Sittingbourne, as Jake Embery came in to replace Kai Garande.

The first chance of the game went Hythe’s way in the fifth minute, as Ethan Smith crossed the ball into the box from the right-hand side of the pitch, resulting in a melee in the penalty box, before the ball was cleared away.

A minute later, the visitors had their first opportunity on the break, when Ben Aubrey hit a shot across the face of goal. The match then went very quiet – Hythe didn’t seem to be finding it easy to play their usual game.

On 41 minutes, they were almost punished when Sam Lemon came forward on the counterattack and slotted the ball past Steve Phillips, however the referee blew the whistle for offside.

The second half began in the perfect fashion, as Hythe scored immediately when the ball came across to Johan Caney-Bryan, who hooked a shot into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season. 13 minutes later, it was 2-0 to the Cannons, when a corner from the right from Frannie Collin went into the box and, after a melee in front of goal, Caney-Bryan tapped the ball in.

In the 72nd minute, the visitors almost pulled one back through Ashley Mutongerwa, who lined up a shot which whizzed over the bar. However, on 75 minutes, Broadbridge managed to make it 2-1, when a corner was headed in by defender Bradley Peters, who refused to celebrate and ran back to his own half to give the visitors more time to score another.

However, the equaliser was not forthcoming – it was Hythe who had the last meaningful chance of the game, as Bradley Schafer slammed a shot just wide of goal.

The full-time whistle blew to mark a narrow but deserved win for Hythe, who moved up to 6th in the table in the process. The Cannons will be back in action on Tuesday night at Reachfields as they take on Sittingbourne in the Kent Senior Cup, with the match kicking off at 7:45pm.

Team: Steve Phillips, Marcus Goldsmith, Bradley Schafer, Jack Steventon, Liam Smith, Lex Allan, Aaron Barnes (Kai Garande 86 mins), Ethan Smith (Jarred Trespaderne 72 mins), Johan Caney-Bryan, Frannie Collin, Jake Embery. Subs Unused: Sam Flisher, Charles Noyelle, Kane Phillip.

Scorers: Hythe Town – Johan Caney-Bryan 46 & 59 mins. Broadbridge Heath – Bradley Peters 75 mins.

Yellow Cards: Ethan Smith 63 mins, Jake Embery 86 mins.

Attendance: 217