Match Preview | Hythe Town (A)
As the rain finally eases off over the southeast corner of Kent, this FA Trophy clash between last season’s play-off finalists can at last get underway later this evening.
Of course, it was the Hawks that emerged triumphant at The Enclosed Ground on that late April day, but it was a tense, tetchy and all-round trembling evening where a lone Charlie Harris goal proved the difference.
He’s back again, fresh from his strike in last Tuesday’s 3-1 Velocity Cup win over Margate with the Hawks in good stead still as we near Christmas, as this cracker sees the winner host National League North Chorley in the next round of the competition.
The Opposition
It’s been another good season for ‘The Cannons’ who, similar to others around them, will be forced to play catch up for much of the campaign.
A myriad of postponements have halted their progress, with 10 days having passed since their previous fixture. They’re doing well, though, as they sit in sixth – a mere point shy of the play-off places with games in hand.
Wisely sticking with manager Steve Watt, last season’s campaign may have shocked a few, but it is the form on their home pasture that has seem them succeed with just the one defeat in all competitions at Reachfields this season.
One to Watch | Johan Caney-Bryan
Hythe Town’s leading goalscorer last season has certainly picked up where he left off with 10 goals in all competitions already this season after bagging 16 in total last time out.
Now in his second spell with the Cannons having been in the squad for the 2015/16 season making, he spent the early part of his career in the youth set up at Maidstone United and Dartford. He played for the University of East London during his studies, and had a long spell with Sittingbourne before returning to Reachfields.
Recent Form – WLWWW
2/12 | Broadbridge Heath (H) | Won 2-1
28/11 | Sittingbourne (A) | Won 1-0
25/11 | Phoenix Sports (A) | Won 4-0
22/11 | Ramsgate (A) | Lost 3-1
18/11 | Tonbridge Angels (H) | Drew 0-0 – Won 3-1 on penalties (FA Trophy Round 2)
Last Season’s Meetings
In what can only be desribed as an ethereal night at The Enclosed Ground, the last meeting between the Hawks and Hythe saw the former jump to the Isthmian Premier in last season’s play-off final.
Whitehawk would just about earn three points in the league fixture at home earlier in the season with a 2-0 win, whilst The Cannons would fire themselves to a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture.
How to Follow
If you can’t make it to Hythe Town tonight, you can follow the action via our X (Twitter) channel, which can be found here.
Tickets
Tickets can be bought at Reachfields Stadium on the day of the game for the following prices:
Adults: £10
Concessions: £7
Under 18s: £2