The Cannons had to endure a late comeback as they ran out 4-2 winners in a thoroughly entertaining game against ten-man Chertsey Town on Saturday.
There were a number of changes to the side who won on penalties on Tuesday night at Sittingbourne in the Velocity Trophy.
The hosts edged the first quarter of an hour without creating any real opportunities and it was in fact Hythe who were first to create as on 17 minutes a trademark long throw from Jack Steventon was nodded on by Frannie Collin finding Liam Smith who forced home goalkeeper Nicholas Jupp to stretch to hold on to the ball.
Jupp was to deny the visitors again 60 seconds later as Kane Phillip crossed into Collin, and he did well to get down to push the ball wide. Chertsey came close to taking the lead as Conor Lee sent the ball into Ben Mendoza who sneaked in front of Steventon but he sent his header just wide.
On 21 minutes Bradley Schafer broke through the home defence only to be tugged back by Rob Sheridan before he could a shot away.
The referee reached for his red card and pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Collin who sent Jupp the wrong way to give the Cannons the lead. Two minutes later Hythe extended their lead as Ethan Smith turned and slammed the ball into the Chertsey net.
Chertsey were denied by Steve Phillips in the Hythe goal as a looping cross from Wayne Ridgley found Gareth Chendick but his effort was saved.
The Cannons were playing some neat and impressive football as the ever-dangerous Ethan Smith came in from the right, but Jupp was on hand to save and then at the other end substitute Gianluca Botti pulled the ball wide.
On the stroke of half time Phillip was to rub salt in the home wounds as he drove the ball home from the right-hand side to reward the visitors with a deserved three-nil half time lead. This had been an impressive half from the Cannons where they had played some scintillating football.
Hythe seemed to have sealed the result on 51 minutes as an Aaron Barnes cross eventually found Steventon who planted the ball into the Chertsey goal to make it four-nil and soon Ethan could have made it five but sent his effort wide.
To their credit the hosts never gave up despite having a mountain to climb. On 79 minutes Botti, who was proving to be a handful, forced a save from Phillips and then two minutes later he turned the ball into the net from a cross by Ridgley and then on the stroke of full time Chendilk fired home to make injury time a little tense but it was too little too late and it is the Cannons who into the draw on Monday when the Step Three sides come in.
Hythe are back Cup Action on Tuesday night when they entertain Margate in the Kent Senior Cup 1st Round. Kick off at Reachfields is 7:45pm.
Team: Steve Phiilips, Kane Phillip (Oscar Webb 73 mins), Marcus Goldsmith (Charles Noyelle 55 mins), Jack Steventon, Liam Smith, Aaron Barnes (Johan Caney-Bryan 62 mins), Ethan Smith, Jake Embery, Frannie Collin, Bradley Schafer. Subs not used: Josh Stirman, Jarred Trespaderne.
Scorers: Chertsey Town – Gianluca Botti 81 mins, Gareth Chendlik 90 mins. Hythe Town – Frannie Collin 21 mins (pen), Ethan Smith 23 mins, Kane Phillip 45 mins, Jack Steventon 51 mins.
Yellow Card: Marcus Goldsmith 33 mins, Kane Phillip 86 mins, Bradley Schafer 90 mins, Johan Caney-Bryan 90 mins.
Attendance: 410