Whitstable lost this early season six pointer against local rivals Hythe & remain in trouble 10 points away from safety.

The first half was Hythe’s as they dominated possession & they also seemed to want it more than Whitstable & they got off to the best start as after 65 seconds they took the lead when Dave Cook’s through ball found Frankie Sawyer who on the edge of the area turned & shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Hythe were now in the ascendancy & in the 7^th minute Sawyer 25 yards out tried his luck but it went just over the bar. Whitstable had their first & only half chance of the game in the 20^th minute when a short corner to Scott Heard who threaded the ball to the on running Kieron Chapple in the area but from 1 yard his shot was blocked & cleared.

Four minutes later Craig Thompson 30 yards out saw his delicate chip find James Morrish but his header was easily saved by Adam Highstead, another good chance fell in the 34^th minute when a Josh Birchell corner found Thompson 6 yards out but under pressure he headed over the bar.

In the 42^nd minute Hythe could have doubled their lead when Thompson on the edge of the area slid the ball into the path of Jordan Wells who from 12 yards saw his shot pushed around the post by Highstead.

Half time arrived & Whitstable could count themselves lucky to be only one down whilst Hythe could regret not being more clinical.

The second half started with Whitstable taking the game to Hythe without really causing any problems & in the 64^th minute Sam Bewick on the right saw his attempted shot into the area clipped over the bar by Ira Jackson & then five minutes later it was two which basically killed the game, Ben Wilson was put through & he ran on into the area before shooting past Highstead, suddenly Hythe were on top & the Whitstable players heads seem to drop as last Saturday’s woeful performance was coming back to haunt them.

In the 75^th minute it should have been three when Wilson on the left saw his low cross just evade Sawyer but Sam May on the back post was tackled but the ball came back to Sawyer but from 6 yards he blasted it over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

It did become three; three minutes later when a corner was half cleared to Cook on the edge of the area & his slide rule pass wide found Nick Reeves who shot home from 10 yards.

The final whistle went & the Whitstable players trudged off knowing that tonight they were second best although the score line slightly flatted Hythe they were the better of two poor sides.

 

WHITSTABLE TOWN:

1. HIGHSTEAD 2. C.HEFFERMAN  3. M.ROBINSON (72)  4. D.KYETE  5. O.GRAY  6. M.DICKENSON 7. S.HEARD 8. S.BEWICK  9. M.HENRY-FRANCES (45)  10. I.JACKSON  11. K.CAMPBELL

SUBS USED: 15. C.HEFFERMAN (45)  17. K.BOYLE (78)

SUBS NOT USED: 12. J.ALGAR  14. M.HURCOMBE  21. H.BROOKS

BOOKINGS: 8. S.BEWICK (88)

 

HYTHE TOWN:

1. MANT 2. S.BUTCHER  3. J.BURCHELL  4. R.JOHNSON  5. N.REEVES  6. B.WILSON (79)  7. D.COOK 8. J.MORRISH 9. F.SAWYER  10. C.THOMPSON (62)  11. J.WELLS

SUBS USED: 15. S.MAY (62)  14. J.COLLADO (79)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. M.YIANNI   16. C.CLOKE

BOOKINGS;  7. D.COOK (56)  9.F.SAWYER (88)

 

REFEREE: Mr S.BUTLER

ASSISTANTS: Mr M.INDYK  &  Mr C.BURTON

ATTENDANCE: 163