The Cannons came away with a fully deserved victory in a 2-0 win at Merstham on Saturday afternoon. In fact, if all their chances had been taken, they could have had a hat full.
Manager, Steve Watt made two enforced changes from the side that beat East Grinstead Town in the FA Cup last Saturday with Jake Embery and Jarred Trespaderne coming in for the unavailable Jack Steventon and Marcus Goldsmith.
Merstham actually started the brighter and had the first chance within the first minute as a Peter Wedgeworth free-kick was headed wide by Dean Gunner.
The visitors had to wait twelve minutes for their first opening as Johan Caney-Bryan had two attempts from close range with the second one being deflected wide for a corner.
Frannie Collin took the resultant kick which he played into the near post to find captain Liam Smith who headed in at the near post to give Hythe the lead.
As the half progressed the Cannons increased their control of the game as Trespaderne sent a wild shot over the bar and then he headed over from a Collin corner.
Collin continued to create chances from dead ball situations as he sent in a free kick deep into the penalty area finding Caney-Bryan whose attempt lacked power and the ball was easily collected by Merstham keeper Zack Basey.
Just before half-time a curling free kick from Collin forced Basey to parry the ball around the upright.
The second period started with Hythe still on top as a shot from Ethan Smith was pushed round the post again by Basey and then another Collin free-kick was headed over by Caney-Bryan.
A rare opportunity came for the hosts as Michael Dixon rounded Hythe keeper Adam Molloy but his final attempt from a tight angle went across the mouth of the goal and away for a goal kick. For a period, the Hythe defence prevented any moves developing into goal scoring opportunities.
Finally with six minutes left of normal time Hythe got the goal that sealed the victory. A poor clearance from Basey was intercepted by Ethan Smith who pulled the ball back to Brad Schafer who made no mistake as he buried the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Schafer had another chance before the end as he pulled a shot wide and then deep in injury time substitute Kai Garande came in from the left and despite being under pressure got his shot away only for Basey to block.
This was the third victory on the spin for Hythe and they now sit in second place in the early table and now face a challenging league fixture on Bank Holiday Monday (28th August 2023) as they entertain Ashford United. Kick off at Reachfields is 3pm.
Team: Adam Molloy, Sam Ituama (Sam Flisher 18 mins), Bradley Schafer, Liam Smith, Lex Allan, Ethan Smith, Jarred Trespaderne (Charles Noyelle 90 mins), Johan Caney-Bryan, Frannie Collin, Jake Embery (Kai Garande 80 mins).
Scorers: Hythe Town – Liam Smith 13 mins, Bradley Schafer 84 mins.
Yellow Cards: Jarred Trespaderne 26 mins, Ethan Smith 68 mins.
Attendance: 201