Jordan Wells’ 93rd minute equaliser rescued a point for 10-man Hythe Town in a match that the home side had dominated up to their 53rd minute opener from a Phil Stevenson penalty.

Walton Casuals capitalised on two moments of woeful Hythe defending; levelling through Gabriel Odunaike within 70 seconds of falling behind.

Then, after John Walker picked up a second yellow card within 16 second half minutes, the visitors looked as though they would take the three points as Malik Ouani put them in front with 12 minutes remaining.  Despite having the extra man, Dan Eason was rarely testing as the majority of Walton’s efforts flew into the netting behind his goal, and they were made to pay by Wells’ late goal.

Hythe manager, Tim Dixon, said that he was both relieved about the point, but angry that his team hadn’t defended their lead.  He added, “I said at half-time that I thought one goal would win this.  It’s criminal though to concede so soon after scoring, but we’ve let the lad run through straight from the kick-off.  It’s one of the poorest goals we’ve conceded this season; and we’ve conceded some bad ones!  It was a catalogue of errors that shouldn’t happen at this level of football.”

“Both goals were down to us tonight, but hats off to my boys and their never-say-die attitude.  It would have been a travesty if we had come away with nothing.  We’ve got to learn the lessons quickly.  It was difficult, down to ten men, but the lads dug in to get the point.”

From the start, it looked as though it would only be a matter of time before Hythe took the lead as Wells toe-poked a shot over from 6 yards, and Phil Stevenson directed a header at Luke Badiall with the goal at his mercy.

Walton had a string of corners, but only had a tame Connor French half volley to show for their efforts.  Meanwhile, Sam Conlon was running freely down the right wing and Stevenson combining well with Jack Sullivan on the left to create chances.

Michael Yianni steered a hurried shot wide and Wells had a header flash past the post, but the forward had the best chance of the half on 38.  Lee Pleau rescued Laurence Harvey’s flick to direct a cross back into the area, only for Wells’ header to fly over.

In the opening seconds of the second period, Walker picked up a caution after stopping Odunaike’s run and cross with a raised arm; a card that was to prove costly on 62, as he mistimed a tackle on the touchline.  Walton were unable to make anything of the resulting freekick and Hythe soon punished them as Sullivan was clipped in the area as he broke past fullback Jack Barton.  Stevenson stepped up to calmly slot the ball into the bottom left corner.

Hythe were forced into a change at this point due to an injury to Jamie Collado, but as messages were being passed among the players, Walton kicked off and Scott Day took advantage of the sleeping midfield to waltz towards the right side of the area.  Day burst through two further weak challenges and crossed for the unmarked Odunaike to slam home the equaliser within 70 seconds of the Hythe opener.

The equaliser, and Walker’s dismissal, gave Walton the encouragement to attack and Odunaike had a shot blocked by Pleau, before Eason saved Ouani’s shot.

Hythe were caught out by a Walton throw on the left wing; Harvey was trying to organise the defence, with little joy, as French and Odunaike combined to set up Ouani, whose left foot 25-yarder flew past Eason into the top corner.

With five minutes left, Odunaike had the chance to seal the match, but planted a header into Eason’s arms.  Hythe almost made Walton regret the miss, as Badiall had to beat away James Morrish’s piledriver.  But within seconds, substitute Dave Pilcher put in a cross from the right, Wells escaped the attention of his marker and powered a header over Badiall’s arms into the roof of the net to earn Hythe a point.

HYTHE TOWN: Dan Eason, John Walker, Jack Sullivan, Jamie Collado (Dave Pilcher 53), Lee Pleau, Laurence Harvey, Michael Yianni (Ryan Philpott 87), James Morrish, Jordan Wells, Sam Conlon, Phil Stevenson.

Subs not used: Jamie White, Roddy Haywood.

Goals: Phil Stevenson 53 (pen), Jordan Wells 90+3.
Bookings: John Walker 46.
Sent Off: John Walker 62.

WALTON CASUALS: Luke Badiall, Jack Barton, Liam Flanighan, Liam Collins, Quincey Rowe, Mitchell Gutteridge, Malik Ouani, Scott Day (Saheed Sankoh 81), Connor French, Gabriel Odunaike, Cbrima Adams (Derek Tieku 68).

Subs not used: Jeremy Boakye, Simon Huckle, Jamal Jimoh.

Goals: Gabriel Odunaike 54, Malik Ouani 78.
Bookings: Cbrima Adams 38, Liam Flanighan 60.

Attendance: 130
Referee: Mr Jacob Miles (Newhaven)
Assistants: Ms Lisa Benn (Pevensey) and Mr Marc Meeten (Worthing)