There were a couple of changes from the Sittingbourne team that defeated Molesey on Saturday.
Josh Dorling and Chris Elliott dropped down to substitutes although both came on during the game. Charlie Allen and Harrison Hatfull, fresh from his trial at Bolton, took their places in the starting line up.
Sittingbourne travelled down the M20 for a Wednesday evening match pitting play-off contenders Hythe against fourteenth place Brickies. Both teams set up in a 4-4-2 and the game began with the teams sparring with other in the middle of the field. However, within 5 minutes Hythe nearly took the lead when a curling shot rebounded into play off the top of the right-hand upright.
Less than eight minutes later, Sittingbourne had their first opportunity. Charlie Allen sent a measured pass through the Hythe defence for Kane Rowland to run onto; the keeper rushed out and managed to get a strong right hand on the low shot to keep the scores at 0-0. Another chance came three minutes later for Sittingbourne when Sefyettin Akdeniz was fouled in a favourable position just outside the box. The resultant free kick from Dan Parkinson went just over the crossbar.
There was more drama not long after when Akdeniz burst through the defence on the right, his low cross fizzed towards the box but the keeper managed to intercept the ball and quickly set up an attack for Hythe. They charged up the field and a deflected low shot hit the inside of the left post, spun across the goal, past the right hand post behind Harry Brookes and out for a corner. A lucky escape for the Brickies.
Trying to capitalise on their recent luck Sittingbourne passed the ball around well and moved forward. A Reiss Crimmen long throw and a back header sent the ball at an inviting height for Rowland, in the 6 yard box, to head it…straight into the midriff of a grateful keeper.
On 37 minutes another chance presented itself to the Brickies when a cross came over from the left and only a couple of quick reaction saves kept Hythe in the game.
Then just before half-time, Sittingbourne were once again pressing hard for the first goal but some good defending by Hythe meant that consecutive shots from Rowland, then Akdeniz where blocked and a last shot from Crimmen was saved. It was to be Akdeniz’s last contribution to the game as he was substituted with a niggling thigh problem for David Smith.
Half-time 0-0.
Three minutes after the restart Fabrice Blewordah shot down the left, beat the offside trap and rifled a low shot past the keeper and into the net.
0-1 to the Brickies.
But Hythe came back strongly and within three minutes were level after a shot rocketed past a rooted Brookes and into the top right hand corner of the net. Unstoppable as the pundits like to say.
1-1.
There was more slightly ineffective probing by both sides until Hythe sent in a wicked cross from the right that was deflected out behind the goal. The corner was not cleared and Hythe scored again with another powerful hit.
2-1.
After that Hythe kept up the pressure and were rewarded by another goal after a run down the left wing beat two defenders and then the ball was side-footed past a helpless Brooke.
That made it 3-1 to Hythe.
But the Brickies weren’t reading from the same page as Hythe and continued to press. Charlie Allen was substituted for Chris Elliot in the 88th minute.
Time was running out, but Sittingbourne tenaciously kept going until they were rewarded when David Smith sent a cross into the box and Kane Rowland was in the right place to slide the ball past the keeper, giving him no chance.
3-2.
The referee indicated 3 extra minutes and it was all Sittingbourne trying desperately to salvage a point. But it was not to be and Hythe finished the game with all three points.
Although they lost the game the team played well, in fact it seems as if they now have found a rhythm and a style that works. Short, accurate passes and players using the spaces around them more effectively seems to be the order of the day and it is only the final ball that is sometimes going astray. But that is not a criticism, it is merely an observation; after all, that particular problem can be laid at the feet of many a Premiership club.
Hythe Town: Will Godmon, Salvyn Kisitu, Michael Turner (Henry Arnold 53 mins), Chris Kinnear, Ryan Johnson, Mitchell Chapman, Ryan Palmer (Jerson Dos Santos 85 mins), Darren Oldaker, Zak Ansah, Liam King (Josh Stirman 61 mins), Kieron Campbell.
Subs not used: James Nurden, Charlie Owen.
Sittingbourne: Harry Brooks, Harrison Hatfull, Fabrice Blewordah, Charlie Allen (Chris Elliott 82 mins), Reiss Crimmen, Chris Webber, Sefyettin Akdeniz (David Smith 45 mins), Lewis Chambers, Kane Rowland, Dan Parkinson (Josh Dorling 82 mins), Tom Loynes.
Subs not used: Rhys Bartlett, Josh Algar.
Officials: Referee: Jammal Horne, Assistants: Mark Edwards, David Joseph.
Wednesday 11th April 2018
Hythe Town 3 (Kinnear 51, Ansah 77, Chapman 83 mins) Sittingbourne 2 (Blewordah 48, Rowland 89 mins)
Attendance 227
Report By Mick Sayce