Southern Counties East Premier Division
Saturday 29th November 2025
A much-improved Cannons were pegged back on a very wet Reachfields pitch on Saturday afternoon as they lost a two-goal lead to go down 3-2 at home to high flying Rusthall.
New manager Darren Beale brought in three new signings to his starting line up with Kai Garrett coming in for the injured Kimsley Gatakata, Mo Kamara replacing Oscar Webb and Monty Saunders in for Richie Keil. There was also a change in goal as Dan Kennedy returned to replace Felix Mortimore.
It was a dream start for the new look Hythe side as they started brightly with Garrett picking up the ball after three minutes sending his effort across the face of the goal and away for a goal kick. On seven minutes Hythe were ahead as a lovely cross field ball from deep by Roarie Deacon found Garrett who pulled the ball back from the right-hand by-line into the path of Steadman Callender to side foot the ball home for his fifth goal in five games.
It was 2-0 after only eleven minutes as a Deacon corner found Garrett at the far post and he lashed the ball home. This was a great start for the hosts but there was a warning sign of things to come a minute later as Daniel Blunn got the ball into the Hythe net only to find the referees assistant waving for offside.
As the half-progressed Rusthall were looking dangerous as they increased the pressure. A corner from Jack Kirby looked like it was dipping under the cross bar, but Kennedy did well to tip the ball over the bar and then former Cannon Frankie Griffin launched a shot that sailed over the cross bar.
Rusthall had the ball in the net again on 31 minutes but following a shot from Charlie Clover that slammed into the cross bar the ball eventually came back to Kirby who fired home but in the interim the ball had gone out for a corner.
The second half started with the visitors on the attack as man of the match Kirby broke down the left-hand side, but Kennedy saved well with his legs. Hythe were still creating chances as Deacon sent in a free kick that was headed across goal by Callender.
Then came the two minutes that changed the game. Firstly, on 63 minutes a cross from Josh Reid found Kirby in the penalty area and he fired home and then two minutes later Rusthall were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Yassin Fares who sent Kennedy the wrong way to bring the scores level.
Things were made harder for Hythe as Hugo Taylor received his second yellow card for kicking the ball away and the hosts were down to ten men. On 79 minutes the turnaround was complete as Kirby slid the ball home for his second and Rusthall third.
There were a couple of efforts from Hythe towards the end as substitute Oscar Webb fired straight at Rusthall keeper Serine Sanneh and then another substitute Kian Scott sent an effort wide of the target.
Despite the defeat, there was encouragement for the Cannons that things are looking better and a move away from the danger zone very possible.
Team: Dan Kennedy, Hugo Taylor, Will Dempsey, Roarie Deacon, Jason Fregene, Jerzy Kryzszka, Monty Saunders (Folarin Awoleke 90+1 mins), Mo Kamara, Steadman Callender (Kian Scott 80 mins), Armani-Jordan Martin (Oscar Webb 68 mins), Kai Garrett (Richie Keil 69 mins). Sub Unused: Felix Mortimore.
Scorers: Hythe Town – Steadman Callender 7 mins, Kai Garrett 11 mins. Rusthall – Kack Kirby 63 & 79 mins, Yassin Fares 65 min (pen).
Red Card: Hugo Taylor 72 mins (Second Yellow). Yellow Cards: Hugo Taylor 37 mins, Jason Fregene 37 mins, Mo Kamara 45+4 mins, Kian Scott 86 mins, Roarie Deacon 90+7 mins.
Attendance: 208
