Keeper denies Cannons

Hythe were left cursing their luck after coming up against a goalkeeper in the form of his life. Guernsey’s Callum Stanton pulled off a string of great saves to deny the Cannons the victory they so desperately needed.

Two more dropped points at Reachfields on Saturday mean Hythe are now eight adrift of the play-offs in Bostik South East. Manager Sam Denly said: “It was extremely frustrating. We were outstanding and we did everything but score.

“In the second half, it was almost laughable. Their keeper had an absolute worldie, made three or four top-class saves and we missed a hatful.

“I couldn’t have asked for any more from the boys and it summed up our season – so frustrating. “Even their manager said to me ‘how you’ve not won that game,

I’ll never know’.

“Their keeper was different class on the day and that’s the reason they got the draw.”

Paris Pereira missed a good early chance for the visitors but Hythe were applying most of the pressure and they went close through Ryan Palmer and debutant Tom Carlton.

The lively Sid Sollis set up Carlton for a shot which dropped wide before Zak Ansah and Charlie Webster had efforts blocked. Hythe took the lead on 27 minutes with Sollis latching onto Chris Kinnear’s pass and hooking the ball past Stanton.

But the home side were only in front for 10 minutes as Carlos Canha sent Matt Loraing clear to beat stand-in Tony Coxall.

Most of the chances after half-time fell the way of the Cannons but Stanton was inspired.

He saved from Kieron Campbell twice and then denied Salvyn Kisitu as Hythe continued to hammer on the door.

Mitchell Dickenson shot wide from 25 yards and Campbell saw another effort saved by Stanton, although Pereira almost won it for Guernsey in stoppage-time.

Hythe: Coxall, Kisitu, Taylor (Campbell 51mins), Kinnear (Sammoutis 76mins), Rowe, Dickenson, Palmer (Neita 90mins), Carlton, Ansah, Sollis, Webster. Subs not used: Fagan, Capel. Attendance: 228.