Hythe Town 1-1 Hastings United - I always said it's going to go down to the wire, says Hythe Town boss Clive Cook

Hythe Town 1 – 1 Hastings United
Location	Reachfields Stadium, off Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS
Kickoff	17/03/2016 19:45

HYTHE TOWN  1-1  HASTINGS UNITED
Ryman League Division One South
Thursday 17^th March 2016
Stephen McCartney reports from Reachfields Stadium

HYTHE TOWN boss Clive Cook says the race for a place in the Ryman League Division One South play-offs is going to go down to the last game of the season.



 

The Cannons missed out on a chance of leapfrogging over two Kent rivals into fourth-place after being held to a draw in a feisty affair against fellow play-off chasers Hastings United, who had two players sent-off for two yellow cards in the last 16 minutes.

Hythe Town drew first blood through a sublime curling strike from Alfie May, who notched his seventeenth goal of the season for the Kent coastal club.

Hastings United equalised through a free-kick from attacker Billy Medlock, who scored his 19^th goal of the season.

Garry Wilson’s side lost Simon Johnson and Medlock to red-cards but Hythe Town couldn’t break through a resilient Hastings defence, well marshalled by Sean Ray.

Folkestone Invicta manager Neil Cugley cast an eye on his home town club with his side claiming the champions-elect tag enjoying a 16 point gap over second-placed Dorking Wanderers with seven games to go.

Dorking Wanderers (77 points from 39 games), Worthing (74 from 38), Faversham Town (70 from 39 games) and Herne Bay (69 from 39) occupy the play-off places tonight.

Hythe Town (69 from 38), Hastings United (67 from 37), Molesey (67 from 38), Ramsgate (64 from 39) and Corinthian-Casuals (64 from 39) are all within a shout of joining Folkestone Invicta in the Ryman Premier League next season.

“Disappointing, they were down to nine men. We really should’ve got the points,” said Cook after his side’s sixth league draw of the season.

“We went for it, a couple of clear cut chances, a couple of one-on-one’s we didn’t take.  I’m disappointed with the (Hastings) goal.

“I think it’s two points lost, not one gained, that’s what I think.

“We’ve come a long way. I’m glad everyone’s disappointed in the dressing room now because they felt they’ve done enough to probably get the three points. I think that’s right.

“I think they’re laughing because they were down to nine men and they got a point, which did they deserve it? In their defence, yes, they probably did do, in their defence but really we done everything but to score another goal.”

Hastings United created the first chance of the game after only 226 seconds when central midfielder Sam Adams played the ball into talented winger Kevant Serbony and his 20-yarder was caught by Joe Mant.

Medlock got his first free-kick off target, drilling his right-footed attempt harmlessly wide from 35-yards.

Hythe Town’s first chance arrived inside 12 minutes but Craig Cloke produced a typical central defender’s finish.

Ben Wilson, who was recalled to the side for the injured Josh Burchell, swung in a cross from the left, which was headed out to Cloke, to hit his volley over the bar from 25-yards.

Hastings’ left-back Sam Cole played the ball down the line for Medlock to cut in from the left but his weak shot rolled into Mant’s hands for a comfortable near post save.

Hythe Town were awarded a free-kick down the left channel and Frankie Sawyer played the ball short to May, who drove his low angled drive just past the foot of the near post.

Hythe Town then started to dominate proceedings and Dave Cook played the ball inside to Sawyer, whose right-footed shot on the turn was saved by visiting keeper Joe Taylor.

“I thought we were tremendous, the first half,” said Hythe’s manager, who was Scott Porter’s number two.

“I thought that was probably the best first half we’ve had in probably the last four or five games, I was impressed.”

May produced a quality strike to give Hythe Town the lead, the goal timed at 24:54.

The Cannons were awarded their third free-kick down the left channel and Hastings paid the price.

Wilson swung in the free-kick which was punched away by Taylor and the ball landed at David Botterill’s feet.  The former Faversham Town midfielder got the ball from out underneath his feet and poked the ball to May, who cut inside and curled a sublime left-footed shot into the top left-hand corner of the net from 15-yards.

“Unbelievable, unbelievable,” hailed Cook on May’s beautiful strike.

“That’s what he’s good at and that what he is. He’s a striker and he scores great goals, a great goal.

“He’s doing well. We still want a bit more out of him. Yes, he’s doing alright.”

The game then turned into a feisty battle with referee Graeme Ions guilty of not punishing some over exuberant tackles flying in from both sides.

“The thing is they were very lively on the bench moaning and criticising the ref about everything, every single thing, every decision, so god knows what they’re like at home,” said Cook.

“That’s football. It’s football. It’s a contact sport. I don’t think there was a bad foul on both sides for the whole game. I think it was competitive. I think the ball was there to be won. I think we won a lot of first balls. I think we was very enthusiastic.”

Adams released Jack McLean down the left and he whipped in an excellent cross which was cleared away by Wilson before it could cross the line.

Hythe Town have got their mojo back under Cook and he was full of praise for his back four who shut the door in Hastings’ face going into half-time.

Hastings’ best effort saw Serbony drag his shot through the penalty area and past the far post.

When asked his thoughts at the break, Cook simply said: “Just same as normal, same as the first half, just keep it going.”

Hythe Town created the first chance of the second half but it fell to the wrong man again.

Wilson swept his free-kick into the penalty area from midfield, the ball came out to an unmarked May out on the right and he cut the ball back to Cloke, who leaned back and drove his shot over the bar from outside the box.

But Hastings United came out with more purpose after the break and should have done better in the eighth minute.

Corner specialist Adams swung in the ball from the left, the ball dropped at Ray’s feet at the far post but he couldn’t force the ball over the line. The ball was cleared out to Johnson, who smashed his right-footed volley over the bar from 25-yards.

Hythe Town boss Cook felt his side should have doubled their lead just 51 seconds later.

May, out wide on the right, played a lovely through ball to put Harris through on goal but his dink was smothered by Taylor, who gobbled up the ball low to his right.

“Jack should’ve taken that second one, it’ll be a different game,” added Cook.”

Hastings United were pressing for an equaliser and they went close when quick feet from Serbony on the edge of the box played in Zac Attwood, but the former Maidstone United and Margate striker swept his first time shot just past the foot of the near post from 16-yards.

“They didn’t trouble us at all. I don’t think anyone’s troubled us, the Folkestone’s, Worthing’s, these,” said Cook.

“The two centre halves (Cook and Reeves) have been superb for me this year. We’ve got a young boy (Connor Hood) at 18 playing at right-back, he’s maturing very nicely and Ben Wilson came in for the injured Burchell and done very well.

“Our back for was very good today but they’ve been good all season whoever I put in.”

But a black gloves-wearing Medlock was brought down by Reeves on the edge of the penalty area, a bad mistake as Hastings United deservedly equalised with 62 minutes on the clock.

Medlock stroked his right-footed 25-yard free-kick, just left of centre, which deflected off the wall and wrong-footed Mant to find the top right-hand corner.

“It was a needless foul. There was no need for that.  He had his back to goal and he weren’t going anywhere,” added Cook.

“He didn’t really need to do that. The strike, I think it came off Dave Cook, the keeper went one way and then swivelled. It’s one of them. We knew they were dangerous from free-kicks around the box.”

Johnson smashed a long diagonal ball from inside his own half which was chased down well by McLean, who cut inside and stung Mant’s fingers with an angled drive.

Wilson whipped in a cross from the right, which was flicked on and Dave Cook directed his header over the bar, hobbling back into midfield having suffered from a dead leg, which forced his withdrawal.

But Hastings United shot themselves in the foot when referee Mr Ions showed two red-cards within seconds.

Johnson, who was about to be substituted, was shown his second yellow card for dissent after Attwood tusseled for the ball with Harris.

Mr Ions then walked over to Medlock and showed him a second yellow card for showing dissent towards the official over the decision to send off his team-mate.

Hastings United boss Wilson was forced to sacrifice McLean and decided to park the bus by putting seven yellow shirted players in defence.

“I think the ref spoilt it, I’ll be honest. There were fouls but they were not bookings or sending offs.  I don’t think there was one ridiculous foul. I think they was unlucky to have two sent off to be honest.” said Cook.

“I don’t know what was said or if it was for fouling. If he (Medlock) said something then fair enough but it should never have gone. It’s always going to be like that in games like that when you’re playing and it’s a lot at stake. It’s disappointing.”

Hythe Town camped themselves inside the Hastings United half for the rest of the game but they couldn’t find the breakthrough that their pressing deserved.

Connor Hood whipped in a cross from the right which was cleared out to Botterill, who held his head in his hands in despair as his drive screamed past the far post.

Harris should have scored against his former club too, but even with big central defender Laurence Harvey was deployed as a targetman but Hastings United were resilient and proved tonight that they are very much involved in the promotion race too.

Cook said: “I changed it a little bit. I put Laurence Harvey up top, brought Marzo (Darren Marsden) on, tried to open it up. Again their defence done what they had to do.

“Jack had one. He should’ve buried that. It should’ve been a goal. That’s what strikers are there for, I’m disappointed with that.”

Hythe Town welcome fourteenth-placed Three Bridges to Reachfields Stadium on Saturday, before fans can pay just £1 to watch next Tuesday night’s visit of 17^th-placed Walton Casuals.

“I won’t think about Tuesday until Sunday now. We’ve got one day, I’ve got to look at the wounded, see what happens. I’ve got a good eighteen-man squad so I’ll see where we land after Saturday,” said Cook.

“That’s a difficult game. Three Bridges is a difficult game because they’re mediocre in the league, nothing to actually play for. They want to dent everyone but we’ll go for it, we’ll have a go.

“That’s what I’ve come back into football for, is to be lively in the promotion run. I’m so glad that we are. Sixty-nine points is a massive achievement when you think I came in on four points from 10 games, my god and we’ve played 38 now so 28 games we’ve got 65 points.

“I always said it’s going to go down to the wire. There’s lots of tricks and turns, there’s no doubt about that.  There’s more to come.  We’ve got a tough game on Saturday, so has everyone else.  There’s a lot of teams fighting to stay in the league, there’s teams that have got nothing to play for and there’s teams which have players who are playing for next year, to be signed for next year.

“It’s exciting. I just think we’ve got to win every game. I’ve got to be honest with you, that’s how I look at every game. We’ve got to get 24 points that’s what I’ll be going for.  There’s lots of turns, that’s it now, for the top, we’ve played all the top sides but I’d rather play all the top sides because I think we play better.”

Hythe Town’s last seven games are against Three Bridges, Walton Casuals, Molesey, Ramsgate, Chatham Town, Sittingbourne, Chipstead before playing their 46th league game at Faversham Town.

“Ray Turner (Faversham Town’s manager) said about four to six weeks ago he feels it’s going to go to the last game, Faversham-Hythe. I can see that. You wouldn’t dream of it but I can see it, which would be massive but I try not to. I think the next four games will sort that out.”

Hythe Town: Joe Mant, Connor Hood, Ben Wilson, David Botterill, Craig Cloke, Nick Reeves, Dave Cook (Darren Marsden 87), James Morrish, Frankie Sawyer (Laurence Harvey 90), Alfie May, Jack Harris.
Subs: Jack Mahoney, William Thomas, Louis Sprosen

Goal: Alfie May 25

Booked: David Botterill 7, Frankie Sawyer 63

Hastings United: Joe Taylor, Chris Cumming-Bart, Sam Cole, Simon Johnson, Sean Ray, Ollie Rowe, Billy Medlock, Sam Adams, Zac Attwood (Tyrell Richardson-Brown 82) Kevant Serbony, Jack McLean (Sam Cruttwell 76).
Subs: Bright Temba, Liam Wilson, Richie Welch

Goal: Billy Medlock 62

Booked: Billy Medlock 5, Simon Johnson 32, Sean Ray 49

Sent Off: Simon Johnson 74, Billy Medlock 74

Attendance: 257
Referee: Mr Graeme Ions (Tunbridge Wells)
Assistants: Mr Michael Marsh (Canterbury) & Kennedy Kikulwe (East Ham, London E6)