Honours were even in the Bank Holiday Monday local derby as Hythe Town drew 2-2 with Herne Bay at Reachfields in what proved to be an exciting nail biting fixture.
The Bay were the first on the attack after only a minute as Thomas Carlton lofted a shot that was off target and went out for throw-in. However, Hythe’s first threat came on eleven minutes and saw them take the lead. Jack Sammoutis played the ball out to Ryan Palmer. He passed back to Zak Ansah who stroked the ball home for his seventh goal of the season.
However, whilst the Cannons had the greater possession it was Herne Bay who looked the more likely as Carlton played the ball into Jake Embery whose attempt was blocked by Hythe keeper, George Kamurasi and then Danny Leonard played the ball back to Connor Wilkins who side footed over.
The hosts then had three opportunities within a minute as they began to look more dangerous. Ansah turned and played the ball to Nigel Neita whose shot was held by Bay keeper Jordan Beeney. The same combination then saw Neita not test Beeney with his next attempt. Sammoutis surged through from his own half but his final shot went just wide.
Beeney was then to deny Kieron Campbell as he got on the end of a Palmer cross. Herne Bay were still creating chances and with ten minutes until the break Bradley Schaffer blasted over at the far post and then Wilkins had a shot deflected into the arms of Kamurasi. One more opportunity for the Cannons before half-time saw Charlie Webster get the ball into Ansah who with his back to goal turned and sent his effort just wide.
The second half saw the Bay pressing hard as Leonard curled a shot wide. At the other end Chris Kinnear found Ansah who also curled the ball just wide. Bay however were having a period in the ascendency and were level on 54 minutes as a low drive from Carlton was deflected past Kamurasi and into the net.
Within three minutes Bay turned the game on its head as they took the lead. Miles Cornwell ran in from the right and slotted the ball past Kamurasi into the net. Things could have got worse for Hythe as Danny Rumbol played the ball into Cornwell who forced Kamurasi into a fine save from his header.
The Cannons had a chance after 75 minutes as Ansah played in Junior Aikionbare who shot straight at Beeney and then at the other end a deep free-kick by Carlton was headed over by Schaffer.
However another moment of magic from Ansah on 81 minutes as he threaded a shot from the edge of the area into the corner of the net to bring Hythe a share of the points. Both sides looked for the winner but neither were able to break the deadlock and the game ended in a draw that was a fair reflection of the game.
Hythe are back in league action on Saturday (1st September 2018) as they travel to League newcomers Haywards Heath Town.
Team: George Kamurasi, Charlie Webster, Aziz Lyoubi, Chris Kinnear, Nathan Daly, Mitchell Dickenson, Ryan Palmer, Nigel Neita, Zak Ansah, Jack Sammoutis (Junior Aikhionbare 62 mins), Kieron Campbell (Salvyn Kisitu 37 mins).
Scorers: Hythe Town-Zak Ansah 11 & 81 mins. Herne Bay-Thomas Carlton 54 mins, Miles Cornwell 57 mins.
Attendance: 303