The Cannons had to come back twice to seal a point in a 2-2 draw in the Boxing Day game at Ramsgate on Tuesday afternoon.

Hythe were pinned back immediately as the Rams took the lead after only two minutes as Jake Mackenzie played the ball through to Alfie Paxman who with the Hythe defence leaden footed tapped the ball home. Hythe could have got back in the game on six minutes as Jordan Johnson-Palmer stole the ball and placed it through to Warren Mfula but the striker pulled the ball wide. This period of the game saw Ramsgate on top as they peppered the Hythe goal. Tom Chapman shot straight at Hythe keeper Will Godmon and then the ever-dangerous Alfie Paxman had a shot deflected wide. This was followed by another attack that saw Aaron Millbank pull the ball back to Liam Dickson who shot wide.

Hythe were to draw level on 26 minutes as Johnson-Palmer fed Dean Grant whose attempt rammed against the inside the post and into the net. This marked a change in the balance of the game as the visitors looked the more likely with Kieron Campbell surging through and his final effort was saved easily by Ramsgate keeper Luke Watkins. On the half an hour Ben Wilson had a free kick from 25 yards that curled but went over the target and then he put in a deep cross that found Dave Cook moving in but he headed over.

The game turned back towards the hosts on 33 minutes as on the break a ball was put from the right-hand side finding Paxman who neatly put the ball away. This gave the initiative back to the Rams as Paxman put in a cross that went around the Hythe penalty area like a pinball before Godmon cleared away. Paxman was continuing to cause havoc down the left-hand side as he crossed to Millbank who headed wide and then he surged through but his final shot went wide. Just before the break Ollie Gray fired a long range shot into the arms of Godmon.

The second period started with the Cannons drawing level on 48 minutes as Mfula got the ball to Grant who calmly placed his shot into the corner to bring the scores level. Soon after there was another melee in the Hythe penalty area which ended with Danny Lawrence blasting the ball over the bar. Hythe then had a period where they looked the more likely to get the winner as Campbell hit a shot straight into Watkins arms and then Grant had a shot deflected before it could threaten the goal. Then came the moment that put Hythe on the back-foot as Mitchell Chapman made a reckless challenge that resulted in a straight red card. Ramsgate now started to press with the one-man advantage but failed to create a clear chance as the Hythe defence stayed resolute and held on to take a point.

Hythe went up one place into seventh position in the table as they now prepare for the long journey to Guernsey on Saturday afternoon.

Hythe team: Will Godmon, Jerald Aboagye, Ben Wilson, Ryan Johnson, Mitchell Dickenson, Jordan Johnson-Palmer, Dave Cook, Mitchell Chapman, Dean Grant, Warren Mfula (Sid Sollis 56 mins), Dean Grant (Ryan Palmer 90 mins), Kieron Campbell (Will Thomas 89 mins).

Scorers: Ramsgate – Alfie Paxman 2 & 33 mins. Hythe Town – Dean Grant 26 & 48 mins).

Attendance: 197