It was always going to be a day when the team making the fewest mistakes would come out on top, and in the end the game came down to the result of two mistakes within 100 seconds.

A full length save by Hythe’s Dan Eason to turn away Dan Wells’ penalty kept the scores level. But when Whitstable keeper Luke Watkins’ scuffed clearance landed at the feet of James Morrish in the centre circle, the former Whitstable midfielder didn’t hesitate in lofting a 50-yard shot over the stranded keeper to decide the match  in Hythe’s favour.

The visitors are becoming somewhat of a bogey side for the Oystermen, as this result both ended Whitstable’s four match unbeaten run, and now means Hythe have recorded five wins and a draw in the six Ryman League encounters between the two sides.

Hythe’s manager, Scott Porter, was a happy man having seen seven defeats in his side’s previous eight games.  He explained “We didn’t expect it to be on as it was boggy and wet. We’ve had a hard run and we really had to dig in.  We knew there was no football going to be played today.”

“It was a battle out there; a case of who made mistakes, and I can’t fault my lads at all. After what happened Boxing Day, we’ve been unlucky in games, they’ve shown a lot of character and spirit to give a great performance.”

“They must be sick of the sight of Dan Eason, he keeps saving penalties, and then the writing was on the wall for Mo (James Morrish) to go an put one in; and what a goal that was!”

“It was tricky conditions out there and we showed a lot of belief.  We’ve had two tough games on two heavy pitches.”

“It should kick-start us now. We should have got something from the Folkestone game but to get the three points against Whitstable is a great achievement.”

“We possibly over-achieved last season, so we are just looking to get a bit of consistency.”

Nicky Southall, Whitstable’s boss, was understandably downcast, saying “I think everyone could see we had the lion’s share of the chances and the better team on the day, but again, our achilles’ heel, we can’t put the ball in the net from 12 yards.”

“I think we’ve now missed eight out of nine penalties this season, which is absolutely staggering.”

“Unfortunately, it was a good finish by James, a bit of a freak, but probably the only real bit of quality in the game.”

“It’s come from a mistake though, and Luke (Watkins) has held his hands up. I stressed at the break that the game would be won or lost on a mistake, and we’ve been on the end of it.”

“We’ve had to reshuffle the pack today (Southall himself, Craig Thompson, Ashley Baverstock, Scott Heard and Jake Mackenzie all missing) and we had to go a bit more direct, especially second half.”

“You had to go direct in these conditions as you didn’t want the ball stuck under your feet, and I think we deserved to come away with something today.”

“You can’t play football on a pitch like that, it was a quagmire. It was a case of trying to turn their back four and put it in areas they don’t want it.”

“We knew it would cut up, but we are in a situation where we need to play games. We’ve been falling behind on games through the cup runs, and still had 28 league games to play this morning.”

“I thought we might be fresher, with Hythe having played two days ago, and we were, but we couldn’t put the ball in the net.”

“With another game on that pitch coming up (New Year’s Day against Sittingbourne), we’ll have to roll our sleeves up and start ploughing through the mud again.”

Whitstable chairman Gary Johnson was praising the efforts of the volunteers who turned out to ensure this match went ahead, but the players probably didn’t appreciate it given how hard most found it to keep their footing.

They did though try to play the best football they could, and Whitstable had a glorious chance within 3 minutes. Good work by Charlie Smith presented Oliver Brown with a shot from the edge of the box, but his tame effort bobbled harmlessly through to Dan Eason.

John Guest had an effort blocked by a combination of Hythe legs from one of a number of corners the home side won in the half, but as the pitch cut up to resemble a ploughed field, chances were at a premium.

Hythe’s only real attempt of the half came just after the only caution, to Richard Quigley for a sliding tackle that went through Brown and Steve Hafner in the middle of the park.

Hythe quickly moved the ball forward through Tamer Hassan, whose direct running suited the wing areas. Louis Sproson’s lofted cross was headed clear by Laurence Harvey to Jamie Callado, who was unmarked 25 yards out, but his effort cleared the netting behind Luke Watkins’ goal.

Whitstable made a tactical change in the second half, pushing Harvey forward to add a physical presence and Harvey would be central to the main action.

The best passing move of the match saw the ball moved from Joe Kane to Hafner, whose cross found the head of Harvey, but keeper Eason was untroubled in catching the ball.

On the hour, either team could have sewed up the match.  First, Harvey went over Shaun Welford’s impetuous block in the area and the home side was awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Dan Wells, but his effort was at a comfortable height for Eason, who dived full length to his right to parry the ball away.

Up to the other end from a long clearance and Luke Watkins was out of his area quickly to try to clear the ball.

His sliced clearance landed at the feet of James Morrish in the centre circle and before anyone could react, Morrish lofted a shot over the stranded keeper, just under the bar to give Hythe the lead.

Whitstable increased the pressure through a Hafner freekick that struck a well-positioned wall following another push on Harvey.

The central defender then slipped in the area as he tried to sweep home a Guest header, and powered another header off the outside of the upright as Hythe struggled to defend their lead.

Charlie Smith saw a shot blocked by Tommy Osborne as time ran out for Whitstable, and Watkins had to be brave to deny the tireless Welford in stoppage time.

WHITSTABLE TOWN: Luke Watkins, Joe Kane, Ross Webb, Dan Wells, John Guest, Laurence Harvey, Dan Keyte (Craig Maguire 83), Oliver Brown (Jack Simon 66), Charlie Smith, Steven Hafner (Oliver Lee 83), Jordan Wells.

Subs not used: Beau Taylor, Matthieu Guila.

HYTHE TOWN: Dan Eason, Louis Sprosen, Richard Quigley, Lee Pleau, Tommy Osborne, Lee Winfield, Dave Cook (Josh Burchell 54), James Morrish, Shaun Welford, Jamie Callado, Taser Hassan.

Subs not used: Jamie White, Lloyd Blackman, Conner O’Hara.

Goal: James Morrish 62

Booking: Richard Quigley 20

Attendance:
Referee: Mr Paul Kelly
Assistants: Mr Stephen Brown and Mr Darren Eaton