The game saw two goals in injury time at the thrilling end of the game as Hythe Town and Hastings United drew 2-2 at Reachfields this afternoon.
The early exchanges saw both team feeling each other out as they struggled to create any early opportunities but it was the visitors who were first to threaten as a free kick from the ever dangerous Dajon Golding was sent in from 25 yards forcing Hythe keeper, Will Godmon to push the ball around the post at full stretch. There were two goals within a minute as Hastings who took the lead on 23 minutes as another free kick from Golding was headed in by Ansu Janneh. However the lead lasted under sixty seconds with Dean Grant feeding the ball to Jerson Dos Santos who slammed the ball home from the middle of the penalty area to immediately bring the scores level.
Whilst the possession remained balanced it was Hastings who were creating the better chances with Sam Cruttwell hitting a shot with the outside of his left foot straight into the arms of Godmon. The ex-Hythe partnership of Kenny Pogue and Sam Adams combined as the former played the ball and Adams tamely curled an effort straight at Godmon. Hastings had the ideal opportunity to regain the lead on 32 minutes as Janneh threaded the ball through to Calum Davies who was one on one with Godmon but the keeper spread himself well to block the shot away for a corner.
The second half started in a similar pattern as Cruttwell played the ball into Adams but he fired just over and then Janneh shot wide under great pressure from Ryan Johnson. At this stage there were a number of attacks from the Cannons which petered out as they got nearer the goal. One of these saw substitute Sid Sollis break down the right and pull back a cross that passed over the mouth of the goal before going wide with nobody in position to convert.
At the other end Pogue pounced on a defensive error but spooned his final shot over. As the half progressed the hosts began to create the better opportunities and looked the more likely as Ben Wilson put in a deep free kick that had to be palmed away by Hastings keeper Charlie Horlock. Hythe then had two golden chances as Kieron Campbell sent Ashley Miller free but he chipped the ball over Horlock but also over the bar and then Jerald Aboagye sent Sid Sollis free. He tried to slide the ball under Hurlock’s body but the keeper blocked.
However Hythe looked to have won the game one minute into injury time as a Campbell free kick was deflected by a defender against the post and out to Dave Cook blasted home from close range. However Hastings did not give up and got an equaliser that overall their performance deserved four minutes in additional time as the Cannons defence failed to clear the ball and George Taggart slammed home. There was one more opportunity for Hythe to take all three points as Miller crossed but both Sollis and Campbell were unable to get enough on the ball to convert.
Hythe had to settle for a point that leaves them in sixth place just inside the play-off places. They take a break on Tuesday from league football as they take on Hendon in the Velocity Cup Third Round. Kick off will be 7:45pm at Reachfields.
Team: Will Godmon, Jerald Aboagye, Ben Wilson, Ryan Johnson, Mitchell Chapman, Will Thomas (Ryan Palmer 72 mins), Dave Cook, Charlie Webster, Dean Grant (Ashley Miller 81 mins), Jerson Dos Santos (Sid Sollis 52 mins), Keiron Campbell.
Scorers: Hythe Town – Jerson Dos Santos 23 mins, Dave Cook 90 mins. Hastings United – Ansu Janneh 23 mins, George Taggart 90 mins.
Attendance: 233