MATCH REPORT: HYTHE TOWN V UNITED 2-2 3/10/23

HYTHE TOWN 2 ASHFORD UNITED 2
By Keith Masters

A great volley by Lewis Knight in the last minute of stoppage time secured Ashford a well deserved draw in a scrappy match at Reachfields on Tuesday.

Both teams lost heavily at the weekend and were seeking to make amends.
Hythe were first to show and in the fifth minutes a ‘chip’ by Ethan Smith was saved by Jacob Russell at the second attempt.
One minute later Hythe went ahead. A cross from the right was parried by Jacob Russell but only to Lex Allan who gratefully headed it into the empty net.

Ashford rallied following the goal and a Danny Parish shot was well saved by Hythe goalkeeper Steve Phillips.
Three minutes later a Parish Free kick was nodded on to Lanre Azeez but he failed to connect.
More good work by Danny Parish set up Rhyle Ovenden but his shot was narrowly past the post.
Ashford were level on the half hour.

A good run by Tom Carlse took him into the Hythe penalty area where he was unceremoniously brought down.
Danny Parish scored the resultant penalty.

Half Time – Hythe Town 1 Ashford United 1

The second half began quite uneventfully until 75th minute.
There is a famous quote attributed to George Santayana – ‘Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it’. Nothing could be more true!
As was reported from Saturday’s game at East Grinstead the first goal came from No 7 who ran through the Ashford defence and scored. Exactly the same happened at Reachfields.
Aaron Barnes – wearing number 7 – gained control of the ball on the half way line and ran unchallenged into the Ashford penalty area and gave Jacob Russell no chance with his fierce shot which went into the top right hand corner of the net.

For the remainder of the time Ashford took the game to Hythe without any real success, until the fifth minute of six, indicated by the referee as stoppage time.
The ball was cleared from the Hythe penalty area to Lewis Knight who was fully 25 yards from goal. His excellent volley crashed into the net and the game ended honours even.
Star man – Ben Gorham
Entertainment value **

Hythe Town:
1 Steve Phillips, 2 Marcus Goldsmith, 3 Jarred Trespaderne (Bradley Schafer 72'), 4 Jack Steventon, 5 Liam Smith, 6 Lex Allan, 7 Aaron Barnes, 8 Ethan Smith , 9 Johan Caney-Bryan, 10 Frannie Collin, 11 Jake Embery (Charles Noyelle 80')
Subs: 12 Josh Stirman, 14 Bradley Schafer, 15 Sam Flisher, 16 Kane Phillip, 17 Charles Noyelle

Ashford United: 1 Jacob Russell, 2 Harvey Brand , 3 Tom Carlse, 4 Connor Dymond (Kymani Thomas 78'), 5 Jonah Tolulope (Lewis Knight 48'), 6 Ben Gorham, 7 Bradley Simms , 8 Rhyle Ovenden, 9 Danny Parish, 10 Ian Draycott (Anthony Edgar 72'), 11 Lanre Azeez
Subs: 12 Lewis Knight, 14 Vance Bola, 15 Anthony Edgar , 16 Mason Saunders-Henry, 17 Kymani Thomas

Referee: Richard Joss
Reachfields Stadium
Attendance: 228

Highlights
Hythe Town v Ashford United