Hythe Town finally came out the better as they won 1-0 at Evostick South-East Division Kempston Rovers following a tightly fought FA Trophy Preliminary Round tie on Saturday afternoon.
The early part of the game was very much stalemate as both sides tested each other and the first opportunity did not come until after a quarter of an hour as Kempston’s Sam Johnson put in a corner that was headed over by Robbie Goodman.
Hythe had to wait until twenty minutes for their first threat as Ryan Palmer chased up the left wing pulling in a cross to Ashley Miller who could not get enough of the ball to divert it towards goal. Chances were coming at both ends with Kempston creating the next effort as Sam Johnson picked up the ball and got into position but his shot was poor and went out for a throw-in.
Hythe were next to threaten as a dangerous free-kick was nodded on by Dean Grant but lacked power and flew into the arms of home keeper Martin Conway. Hythe keeper Will Godmon had to be at his best as he tipped over a shot from the left by Jake Newman. On 34 minutes Jerald Aboagye broke down the right and crossed into Grant who headed over.
Godmon was again on hand to keep the scores level as Ash Fuller got himself into a shooting position but his attempt was palmed away for a corner by the Hythe keeper.
Hythe had their best effort on 40 minutes as Kieron Campbell slammed a free-kick from 25 yards against the cross bar. The hosts really should have done better a minute into first half injury time as Newman broke through the Hythe defence but he sliced his shot wide when it looked easier to hit the target.
The early stages of the second half saw Hythe begin to take control of the game as firstly Palmer fired over the bar and then Miller turned in but his effort sailed over. Palmer then had a shot that drifted wide. However Hythe were not to be denied and took the lead on 63 minutes as Palmer crossed into Grant who headed in from close range via a small deflection from a defender.
This seemed to spark the hosts in to action as they pressed for an equaliser. Kyal McNulty put in a dangerous cross that was cleared away by the head of Dave Cook.
Hythe did have one more chance to increase their lead as Sid Sollis cut in along the by-line pulling the ball back to Grant but his attempt was blocked. However it was the Hythe defence who were coming under pressure but held out with Mitchell Dickenson particularly impressive at the back.
Ben Shepherd had an effort that was deflected into the side netting by the Hythe defence and then Sam Johnson broke through but his effort lacked power and was smothered easily by Godmon. One more opportunity for Kempston saw a melee in the Hythe penalty area that was cleared away before the hosts could convert.
So it was The Cannons who held onto their 1-0 win and they progress to play at Leatherhead in the 1st Qualifying Round to be played on Saturday 28th October 2017. Hythe will now return to league action next Saturday as they entertain Whyteleafe at Reachfields with a 3pm kick-off.
Team: Will Godmon, Jerald Aboagye, Ryan Palmer, Ryan Johnson, Mitchell Dickenson, Jordan Johnson-Palmer (Mitchell Chapman 73 mins), Dave Cook, Charlie Webster (Ben Wilson 87 mins), Dean Grant, Ashley Miller (Sid Sollis 63 mins), Kieron Campbell.
Scorer: Hythe Town – Dean Grant 63 mins
Attendance: 132