Hythe Town performed a classic “Smash & Grab” raid as Zak Ansah stole the points with a goal deep into injury time as they won 1-0 at Haywards Heath Town on Saturday afternoon.
The first half was very much one way traffic as Hythe, who were without injured players Jack Sammoutis, Aziz Lyoubi and Kieron Campbell, dominated the half although the hosts did have the first two opportunities as firstly on six minutes a long ball to Karl Akehurst saw the home midfielder head straight into the arms of Hythe keeper, George Kamurasi. Then two minutes later Lewis Finney found Nathan Cooper who wasted a chance as he too fired directly at Kamurasi. Hythe then took control as Ryan Palmer sent in a dangerous deep cross which drifted past the far post with no one on hand to convert.
Haywards Heath Town were getting as many bodies back behind the ball as they defended as if their lives depended on it. Junior Aikhionbare played Mitchell Chapman whose final shot looped over. Haywards Heath did have the odd effort during the rest of the half as Finney hit a low drive which was collected at the second attempt by Kamurasi. However, Hythe continued to press with a Palmer free-kick just out of the reach of Chris Kinnear who was attempting to divert the ball towards goal. Nathan Daly then played the ball through to Aikionbare but he was dispossessed before he could get a shot away.
Again the odd chance was coming at the other end as a 25 yard shot from Akehurst was deflected just over the bar but Hythe were still in the ascendancy as Palmer fired wide. Neither side were able to break the deadlock as the half drew to a close.
The second period saw an early chance for Ansah but he fired straight into the arms of Haywards Heath keeper Josh Heyburn and then a long range effort from Charlie Webster went wide. However the hosts seemed to have more belief in the second half and began to threaten as Kane Louis had a shot deflected over the bar and then were unlucky not to take the lead on 67 minutes as an exquisite lob from Nathan Cooper from the edge of the area was tipped over superbly by Kamurasi onto the top of the cross bar and over. Their confidence was growing with a cross from Max Miller that found Akehurst whose effort with the outside of his left foot went just wide.
Hythe were still creating as Webster moved in and unleashed an effort that rattled the cross bar and then an Ansah free-kick was deflected into the arms of Heyburn. With a minute of normal time to go Kinnear crashed a shot that forced Heyburn to parry the ball away. As it seemed that the game was bound for a scoreless draw, Hythe, deep into injury time, were to get the goal that would bring all three points home. Palmer picked up the ball on the left. His cross pin-balled around the penalty area before falling to Ansah to fire the ball home. There was no time for Haywards Heath to respond and it was the Cannons who were to take the win.
Hythe now move up to seventh place but take another break from league football as they entertain Tonbridge Angels in 1st Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup next Saturday at Reachfields.
Team: George Kamurasi, Salvyn Kisitu, Charlie Webster, Chris Kinnear, Nathan Daly, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer, Nigel Neita, Zak Ansah, Mitchell Chapman (Charlie Owen 76 mins), Junior Aikionbare.
Scorer: Hythe Town – Zak Ansah 90 mins.
Attendance: 104