Hythe Town deservedly got all three points despite again being reduced to ten men in a 3-2 win at home to East Grinstead Town at a damp Reachfields on Saturday afternoon.
The game got off to an electric start with both teams threatening. After four minutes the Cannons had their first opportunity as a dangerous Kieron Campbell cross was just out of reach of the advancing Dean Grant but the ball drifted wide of the target. East Grinstead had their first effort a minute later as Jordy Mongoy hit a curling shot high over the bar. Hythe were lucky to remain on equal terms with Marcus Elliott pouncing on a defensive mix up but with the goal gaping slammed his attempt against the foot of the post. It was the Cannons who then started to take control and had the ball in the net on nine minutes as a Ben Wilson cross was headed home by debutant Chris Kinnear. However, the referee’s assistant was flagging as the ball had gone out of play so the goal was ruled out.
The game was almost one-way traffic at this stage as firstly Grant fed the ball to Ryan Palmer who lifted it over the bar and then Palmer returned the favour but this time Grant’s effort went into the arms of Wasps keeper Dan Smith. There was the odd opportunity on the break at the other end as substitute Isaac Hutchinson got a shot away but he miss-hit his attempt high over the bar. The home pressure finally paid off as Palmer got the ball over to Campbell who surged in to the penalty area. His shot was diverted by Hythe’s second debutant Zak Ansah into the net to give the Cannons a deserved lead. Three shots followed as Campbell had a shot parried away, Ansah had another attempt deflected wide and Palmer shot against the post.
However East Grinstead were to draw level against the run of play on 32 minutes as Alex Gaggin pounced on a lapse in the Hythe defence and the striker coolly finished off the opportunity. Hythe were to regain the lead on 36 minutes as an exquisite curling shot from the edge of the area by Palmer sailed into the top corner of the net giving Smith no chance. There was one chance before the break for the visitors to level the scores as Elliott pulled back but Gaggin struck the ball over the bar.
The second period started more evenly with Ansah getting the ball back to Grant who passed on to Palmer but his attempt was blocked and then at the other end Oliver Boulding got the ball to Gaggin but Hythe keeper Will Godmon came out to block. Things took a turn for the worse for the hosts as Ben Wilson was adjudged to have brought down a visiting striker and was shown a straight red card. This was Hythe’s fourth red card in three games. The resultant free-kick from Hutchinson was blasted wide. However, ten-man Hythe were to extend their lead on 62 minutes as Jerald Aboagye surged down the right pulling the ball back to Ansah who slammed the ball home.
The Wasps had a chance within a minute to get back in the tie as Temiloluwa Oladejo blasted a shot over the bar from 3o yards. However, it was the Cannons who looked the more likely. Palmer put Campbell in but her fired over and then Ansah played the ball back to Jordan Johnson-Palmer whose effort also sailed over. With ten minutes left the visitors were to narrow the gap as Hutchinson fired a free-kick through the Hythe wall and into the net giving them a chance of getting a point. Hythe nearly extended their lead again as Campbell got the ball out to Charlie Webster but his shot was blocked by Smith and then the visitors tested the Hythe defence but Leo Mazzone’s header was held well by Godmon.
As the game came towards the close Webster got the ball into Grant whose shot was pushed around the post but deep into injury time East Grinstead should have got the equaliser as firstly Oladejo had a shot blocked by Godmon but the rebound was pulled wide by Elliott when it looked easier to hit the target.
Hythe held on for all three points and remain in eighth place as they look forward to next Saturday’s trip to high flying Corinthian-Casuals.
Team: Will Godmon, Jerald Aboagye, Ben Wilson, Chris Kinnear, Mitchell Dickenson, Jordan Johnson-Palmer, Dave Cook, Ryan Palmer, Dean Grant, Zak Ansah (Charlie Webster 77 mins), Kieron Campbell.
Scorers: Hythe Town- Zak Ansah 27 & 36 mins, Ryan Palmer 36 mins. East Grinstead Town-Alex Gaggin 32 mins, Isaac Hutchinson 80 mins.
Attendance: 204.