Hythe left it too late to stage a comeback in atrocious weather conditions as they went down 4-3 at Whyteleafe on Saturday afternoon.

As the rain poured down throughout the game, the Cannons were blown away in the first half. Whyteleafe carved through the Hythe defence causing regular problems as firstly the ever-dangerous Marvin Armstrong pulled an early shot wide. Hythe’s first opening came on eleven minutes as Kieron Campbell sent a dangerous cross that was missed by Charlie Webster and Zak Ansah as it went across the penalty area. However, it was the hosts who were to take the lead on 13 minutes as Matthew O’Donoghue broke through the Hythe defence and slotted the ball home.

Hythe did have an opportunity to bring the scores level as a Nigel Neita cross was cleared by the defence to Chris Kinnear who lifted the ball over the bar. However, it was the hosts who were tormenting the Hythe back four as after 24 minutes Lauris Chin fed the ball out to Harvey Brand who was in the clear and ran in to place the ball in the far corner of the net. Three minutes later it got even worse for the Cannons as Chin worked his way through to finish easily to make it 3-0.

Hythe were now “all at sea” as Whyteleafe looked for their fourth. On the half hour Chin played the ball into Valentino Carpene but he looped the ball into the arms of Hythe debutant goalkeeper Henry Newcombe. The keeper did well to block Carpene in another attack as the threats kept coming. Ansah did have an effort at the other end as he sent a free kick from the edge of the area well wide of the post. Newcombe had to be at his best as he smothered an attempt from Armstrong. However, against the run of play, Hythe were given a life-line deep into first half injury time as a Campbell cross was headed by Kinnear against the underside of the bar dropping down over the line to get a goal back.

The start of the second half was delayed as an injury to one of the assistant referees meant there was an urgent search for a replacement. Eventually our own Barry Vincer offered to run the line and the second period started fifteen minutes late. The second period began with Whyteleafe on the attack as a corner from Bradley Wilson was met by Jamie McGeorghegan but Newcombe did well to save. Kinnear had the first attempt of the half for the Cannons as blasted wide and then on 59 minutes things got worse for Hythe as Whyteleafe extended their lead. Hythe lost the ball and O’Donaghue pounced and went through to slam the ball home and put the game out of the reach of the visitors.

This seemed to spark a reaction from Hythe who upped the gears and began to look dangerous. On 68 minutes Campbell sent in a corner from the left-hand side that was met by the head of substitute Junior Aikhionbare who converted at the near post to make it 2-4. Hythe were now looking the more likely as Aikhionbare burst in from the left and forced Whyteleafe keeper Todd McCarthy to save well and then Ansah sent in a shot that drifted wide. However, there were still some threats from the hosts as Armstrong found himself in the clear but he poked the ball wide and then Newcombe saved well from Joshua Malcolm.

Deep into injury time Zak Ansah got another goal back as he fired in across the goal and into the far corner. With the ball going through the side netting it was not clear that he had scored but the goal was awarded but it was “too little too late” for the Cannons who must now look at addressing the defensive frailties before they visit Herne Bay next Saturday.

Team: Harry Newcombe, Salvyn Kisitu, Aziz Lyoubi, Chris Kinnear, Nathan Daly, Mitchell Dickenson, Nigel Neita (Jack Sammoutis 62 mins), Zach Fagan (Junior Aikhionbare 45 mins), Zak Ansah, Charlie Webster, Keiron Campbell.

Scorers: Whyteleafe – Matthew O’Donoghue 13 & 59 mins, Harvey Brand 24 mins, Lauris Chin 27 mins. Hythe Town – Chris Kinnear 45 mins, Junior Aikhionbare 68 mins, Zak Ansah 90 mins

Attendance: 123.