After a morning of torrential rainfall, a sizeable number of Cannons supporters made their way to Southwood to be greeted by clearing skies and a rather better playing surface then had been expected.

What they did not get to see though was much of the flowing football that their team seem unable to export from Reachfields to away grounds.

New in the Town line up was Corinthian and ex-Charlton youth keeper Aiden Prall who became the fifth Hythe keeper to be used in four games (including the Gillingham friendly) and he was soon to be in action making two early saves from Rams danger man Tom Chapman.

During the opening half hour, he would surely have been worried at what he was witnessing though as wave after wave of home attacks were only halted by a series of fouls and corners being conceded by his defence and midfield.

Newly promoted lady official Kirsty Dowle did have a few shaky moments early on but the main reason for Hythe frustration was surely the inability to move meaningfully out of defence and instead to rely on aimless punts upfield which all too often were swiftly returned.

Then all of a sudden, the home defence conceded a free kick just outside the area, Zak Ansah was the appointed taker, and Ramsgate custodian Luke Watkins became just another spectator as the ball flew into the top of his net.

Joy soon became despair though for Hythe as influential vice-captain Ryan Palmer stretched for a tackle in midfield and had to leave the fray. Nevertheless, the sight of a fit-again Charlie Webster coming off the bench warmed Hythe hearts in preparation for the second half.

Sure enough, Town started the second period brightly and the previously quiet Kieron Campbell soon had an early deflected attempt well saved.

However, on 50 minutes Nathan Daly was adjudged to have committed a foul tackle in the area and up stepped Aaron Millbank to blast in a spot-kick that would have needed all five Hythe goalies to keep out.

As well as keeper Prall, Sam Denly had moved in the week to re-sign youngster Elliot Capel, one of a handful of junior players that had been brought in on his appointment last season to boost numbers at a difficult time. After a good display against Gillingham the manager decided he was worthy of a start and his belief was rewarded when after a hesitant early few minutes the new boy became the new man and quite possibly even the man of the match with a series of strong and speedy overlapping runs, linking well with the tricky Campbell.

After one such run on the hour Chris Kinnear fired over from distance and then Nigel Neita produced a dangerous cross that just evaded the incoming Junior Akhionbare.  Now at last Hythe were looking the part but then a critical moment went against them when Kinnear released Akhionbare on the right to remind Hythe folk of his 30 second goal against Sittingbourne the previous week. This time there was to be no scoring glory though as the talented but inconsistent forward made space for himself only to steer his effort wide of the post.

Another Campbell/Capel move caused near panic in the home defence and a Neita cross was just a shade to high for Charlie Webster to get over but although the home side had employed a packed defence at times they were, unlike their opponents in the first half, always ready to break out in an organised and threatening manner and this was shown when Aidan Prall found himself being challenged by not one but two unmarked home forwards.

As he came outside his area the keeper managed to foil one attacker but then tangled with the second who predictably collapsed as if being shot by a sniper. Now the game had reached it’s flashpoint with both benches in uproar and one side calling for a red card and the other claiming gross over-reaction.

As the home terraces bayed for blood and players milled around, Referee Dowle came of age with the only obvious call there was to be made. The keeper had fouled his man in an honest attempt to get the ball away. and there was to be a free kick for the home side and a caution for the keeper.

Although nothing else ensued from this late incident there was still time for Chapman to miss a chance when well-placed and for Kieron Campbell to get in one last attempt for his side.

For a Hythe team looking to make a championship challenge this was a disappointing display generally but for a team only positioning itself for the play-offs it should be remembered that Lloyd Blackman-managed Ramsgate are no mugs and have their own play-off ambitions too.

Plus points for the Cannons were the sight of Elliot Capel and substitute Charlie Webster making those powerful forward runs and the reassuringly huge figure of Zach Fagan striding nonchalantly on for the final minutes and seemingly clear of his injury worries.

Team: Aiden Prall, Salvyn Kisitu, Elliot Capel, Chris Kinnear, Nathan Daly, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer (Charlie Webster 38 mins), Junior Aikhionbare (Zach Fagan 80 mins), Zak Ansah, Nigel Neita, Kieron Campbell.

Scorers: Ramsgate – Aaron Millbank 50 mins (pen). Hythe Town – Zak Ansah 29 mins.

Attendance: 229