Hythe Town, minus four first team regulars, put up a good show but were unable to overcome Step Three opposition as the went down 2-0 at Royston Town in the Buildbase FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round on pitch very damp from the early Saturday afternoon rain.
Hythe gave a first start of the season to Jarred Trespaderne and had Liam Smith and James Rogers in the centre of defence as both Dean Beckwith and Tom Wynter were out.
Also missing were Alex Flisher and Charlie Webster. It was the Cannons who started the game the brighter as after only two minutes Nick Dembele forced Royston keeper Ron Yates to tip the ball over the bar from a rasping shot.
Royston had their first effort three minutes later as Josh Williams attempted to lob the ball over Hythe keeper Nathan Harvey, but it was not high enough to cause a problem.
Despite chances coming at each end, The Cannons were having the majority of the play as Alex Brown launched a shot just over the bar and then at the other end Isaac Galliford drove a low shot which was smothered by Harvey.
The deadlock was broken against the run of play as Brandon Adams was brought down in the penalty area and the referee pointed straight at the spot. Adams got up and sent Harvey the wrong way to give the hosts a 24th minute lead.
This seemed to revitalise Royston who took control of the game and had a couple of attempts and then increased their lead a minute before half-time as Williams crossed into Adams who headed home his second.
The second half started in a similar pattern as Adams hit a shot against the cross bar and then Hythe man of the match, Harvey denied Williams three times in quick succession with good saves.
A period of Hythe pressure followed as they sought to get back in the game, but they were unable the make the break through as the home defence stayed firm. It was Royston who came closest as Spyros Mentis forced another Harvey in the dying minutes.
The Cannons adventure in the FA Trophy is over for another year and now they can concentrate on league action. It looks likely that due to the government announcement after the game that due to the new lockdown there will a month’s break from football although we await confirmation from the FA. More details will follow on the website.
Team: Nathan Harvey, Kaka Dembele, Nathan Gordon, Alex Brown, James Rogers, Liam Smith, Jarred Trespaderne (Kane Phillip 54 mins}, Darren Oldaker, Tom Walmsley, Frannie Collin, Nick Ndebele (Bradley Ihionvien 71 mins)
Scorers: Royston Town – Brandon Adam 24 mins (pen) & 44 mins
Attendance 290