Hythe Town turned out 5-4 winners against Faversham Town in an amazing game at Reachfields on Tuesday night.
The first three attacks of the game produced three goals as the Cannons took the lead after only one minute. Salvyn Kisitu broke down the right and crossed into Jack Sammoutis who stroked the ball home. Within four minutes the scores were level as former Hythe striker Dean Grant rose to glance a header from a corner into the net. However, Hythe were back in front on seven minutes when Kieron Campbell picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a magnificent shot that curled into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Within a minute Faversham could have equalized again as Ashley Miller saw his shot sail over the crossbar. The game was going from end to end as the Cannons captain Chris Kinnear blasted a shot that was well held by the Lilywhites keeper Thomas Benham. However, the visitors continued to threaten as George Monger fed the ball to Jack Harris who forced Hythe keeper George Kamurasi to save.
Faversham, who contained six ex-Hythe players had a period of pressure as Grant drilled a shot for the left across the face of the goal and then he was put through but was denied by Kamurasi. From the resultant Miller corner, Harry Goodger headed over the bar. However, the Cannons were to extend their lead on 31 minutes as a Sammoutis corner was tapped onto Nigel Neita who finished off nicely from close range. However, the visitors did not give up and Miller was to weave his way through the Hythe defence before he forced Kamurasi to save with his legs.
The latter part of the half saw Hythe in the ascendancy as Sammoutis forced a save from Benham. Three minutes from half-time, Hythe should have increased their lead as Ansah broke through with the Faversham defence claiming offside but the Hythe leading scorer uncharacteristically stumbled over the ball when it looked easier to score.
The second period started with more pressure from Faversham. On 49 minutes Grant broke through but his final effort drifted wide and then Miller picked up the ball but curled it wide of the target. Faversham were, however, to narrow the gap on 55 minutes as a cross from Ryan Cooper was met by Goodger who bundled the ball over the line. This seemed to spark the hosts into life as Campbell broke in from the left but fired wide and then the ball came out to Charlie Webster who rifled a shot just wide of the upright. The Cannons were to restore their two-goal advantage on 64 minutes as Sammoutis surged down the by-line crossing into Ansah who finished with aplomb for his 15th goal of the season.
The game continued at frenetic pace with chances still coming at either end. Neita played into Kisitu whose final attempt was deflected into the arms of the Benham and then substitute Ryan Palmer played into Ansah who with his back to goal turned but was off balance and the ball went wide.
Faversham were to pull a goal back again on 74 minutes. Michael Jenner crossed into Cooper who headed home. At the other end Ansah forced his way in and forced Benham to save but the Cannons were not to be denied and restored their two goal lead on 81 minutes as Kinnear picked up the ball on the edge of the area and blasted it home to make the score 5-3.
Full credit to the Lilywhites who refused to be beaten as on 87 minutes there was an infringement in the area and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Goodger whose spot-kick sent Kamurasi the wrong way to make it 5-4.
Hythe managed to hold on for all three points in this breathtaking encounter that took them up into third place in the table, Could there be as much action as Hythe travel to Sevenoaks Town next Saturday?
Hythe Team: George Kamurasi, Salvyn Kisitu, Aziz Lyoubi, Chris Kinnear, Nathan Daly, Mitchell Dickenson, Jack Sammoutis (Junior Aikhionbare 67 mins) , Charlie Webster, Zak Ansah, Nigel Neita (Ryan Palmer 68 mins), Kieron Campbell.
Scorers: Hythe Town – Jack Sammoutis 1 min, Kieron Campbell 7 mins, Nigel Neita 31 mins, Zak Ansah 64 mins, Chris Kinnear 81 mins. Faversham Town – Dean Grant 5 mins, Harry Goodger 55 & 87 (pen) mins, Ryan Cooper 74 mins.
Attendance 200