Phoenix Sports 2-0 Hythe Town

Saturday 14th September

Phoenix Sports 2-0 Hythe Town

Phoenix Sports came out on top in a bottom of the table encounter as they sent Hythe Town away from the Mayplace empty handed leaving Steve Watt with plenty to ponder as he settles into his new role.

The Cannons, who included two new signings in Danny Devine and Hamilton Bunga, edged the first half with Devine involved in the first attack on eight minutes. The right back crossed into Frannie Collin who on the turn shot just wide. Hythe were to find the net on 13 minutes as the lively Tom Carlton sent a ball across the penalty box to find Rhys Bartlett coming down the left who planted his shot into the net. However, the goal was ruled out with Referees Assistant flagging for offside. Hythe continued to press as a Collin cross found Bartlett who off balance shot wide.

Ollie Rowe and Carlton were to be denied in quick succession by the Phoenix defence and then Bartlett had another opportunity which he blasted over. The hosts first meaningful attack came on 34 minutes as Connor McGrady put in a dangerous ball but before anybody could convert the referee was waving for an infringement on Hythe keeper Ryan Nicholls. This seemed to spark Phoenix into action as they gradually began to look more dangerous. A deep cross from Kenny Aileru was brilliantly cleared away by Devine.

As the half went into the final five minutes Hythe had an attack as Bartlett blasted into the side netting but the pressure was now coming at the other end as Jeff Duah-Kessie curled a shot that was well held by Nicholls who on the stoke of half time had to save well twice from a deep cross from Ben Allen that appeared to be dipping under the cross bar and then from a shot by Duah-Kessie.

Phoenix would dominate the second half and almost took the lead on 47 minutes when a shot from George Whitelock was saved well by Nicholls diving to this left. Phoenix were to take the lead on 55 minutes as Aileru burst through unchallenged, cutting through the Hythe defence to finish neatly in the corner of the net.

Within three minutes Hythe were punished again as Nicholls coming out hesitated and Aileru pounced to push the ball past the Hythe keeper and into the net.
The Cannons did put some pressure on to get back in the game as Charlie Webster broke through but was blocked by the Phoenix keeper Steve Phillips coming off his line and then Carlton worked his way in and fired past the post.Devine put in a pin point long ball from defence into Stephen Okoh whose shot was saved by Phillip with the ball coming back to Collin who didn’t find the target with his attempt.

Phoenix nearly got a third on 76 minutes as the ball floated over Nicholls but Devine did really well to hook the ball away from underneath the cross bar. Substitute Chris Kinnear played a long ball to free Okoh again but he sent his attempt over the bar. One more chance for the hosts in injury time as Duah-Kessie hit a shot that clipped off the top of the crossbar and over.