A late equaliser from Josh Burchell gave Hythe Town another chance to qualify for the next round of the FA Cup after they drew 2-2 with Lordswood.

Jason Lillis made three changes from the team which drew against Rochester on bank holiday Monday, Gary Cook and Joe Kane took the places of Brady Lillis and Daniel Wells in defence and in midfield Imran Englefield came in for Justin Ascheri.

In comparison, Hythe boss Tim Dixon also made three changes from his team who lost to Hastings earlier in the week, Michael Yianni, who returned to the club after his move from Folkestone during the week made his debut, Craig Cloke also started in the place of Phil Stevenson and Jack Sullivan took the place of John Walker at right back.

The game began quickly and within the opening minute the hosts had strong appeals for a penalty turned down after an inswinging free kick from the left wing seemed to hit Lawrence Harvey on the arm.

Soon after, Hythe had their own opportunity to go ahead, John Walker did well to dribble the ball into the penalty area before turning and laying the ball off to Craig Thompson but the striker had no space to shoot and his effort flew wide.

Despite the visitors’ efforts it was Lordswood who were able to get the breakthrough with eleven minutes gone, after a long pass across the pitch to Adam Hooper, the full- back continued with the ball down the left wing before putting a low, powerful effort towards the area, despite his team mates shot, Pete Huggens controlled the shot before turning and placing the ball past Dan Eason in the Hythe goal to give the lords an early lead.

Although Lordwood were happy to keep the ball and take their time, Hythe were looking to push forward when they had the ball and after a slow period in play they were able to cancel out the opening goal, a high cross from the right came to Josh Burchell who was given time and space to turn past his marker before laying the ball into the path of Craig Thompson who acrobatically put the ball into the far post to equalise for the visitors.

This setback for the Lords was nearly made worse soon after when a Hythe free kick was flicked on by Harvey but the defender’s header was brilliantly saved by Matt Byott.

Despite this pressure as the second half went on, Lordswood were able to regain their lead, a long free kick by Adam Hooper fell perfectly onto the head of Joe Kane whose looping header deceived Dan Eason and meant that the underdogs from the Southern Counties East League were on top as the second half began.

It took around twenty minutes for Hythe to look as if they could get back into the game, a long cross from the left wing flew over every Lordwood defender before it fell perfectly to Yianni who hit a powerful shot onto the near post before cannoning back and away from danger.

Lordswood were still looking to extend their lead and confirm their place in the second preliminary round, Charlie Smith had another chance to score but his header towards the top corner from a cross was tipped wide.

As time began to run out for Hythe they began one final push for a goal before they were knocked out of the tournament in which they have had brilliant recent success and they thought that they had forced a replay when Lee Pleau’s cross from the left was turned in by Lawrence Harvey, but to the defender’s dismay his looping header was disallowed for offside.

In the final minutes Hythe continued to look for their second goal and they got it with only one minute remaining in the game. Yet another desperate cross from a free kick flew into the penalty area, however, unlike earlier in the match, Lordwood struggled to clear the ball away, this meant that it was able to fall to the feet of Josh Burchell who was given time to turn before sliding his shot through the legs of Byott to give Hythe a chance of continuing in the competition.

The two teams now face a replay at Hythe’s Reachfields Stadium for a chance to reach the second preliminary round of the competition as well as a vital £1925 courtesy of the FA’s prize fund.

Lordswood: Byott, Kane, Hooper, Cook (Hallett), Wells, Crump, Englefield, Maguire, Smith (Box), Huggens, Webb (Twomey)

Subs not used: Munn, Lillis, Hooker

Booked: Crump

Hythe Town: Eason, Sullivan, Pleau, Yianni, Cloke, Harvey, Walker (Stevenson), Morrish, Thompson, Conlon, Burchell

Subs not used: Collard, Pilcher, White, Nyaruwa, Carr

Booked: Pleau, Thompson

Attendance: 107