Bearsted 3 Hythe Town 2
SCEFL Challenge Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 24th February 2026
The young Cannons did the club proud on Tuesday evening despite going down 3-2 at Bearsted on Tuesday evening in the Quarter Finals of the SCEFL Challenge Cup.
There were nine changes to the team that won at home to Corinthian the previous Saturday due to ineligibility of players who were signed after the original date for this fixture (when the game was postponed). The only two players remaining in the starting line-up were Jerzy Krzyszka and Richie Keil. The team was mainly made up of the Under 23 squad.
It was a bright start for the Cannons as they immediately began to press and on four minutes, they had their first opportunity as Josh Cleaver headed wide from a corner and this was followed by a shot from Robbie Keil that also went the wrong side of the upright. Husthwaite was next to fire wide as the Cannons dominated the early play. On 17 minutes Hythe can count themselves unlucky as a curling effort from Richie Keil slammed against the upright.
Bearsted seemed to be on the ropes but did create their first opening on nineteen minutes as they were denied by a great double save by Hythe keeper Dan Kennedy that kept out Sam Stace and former Cannon James Nurden. However, it was the Cannons who looked more likely as Richie Keil fed Sam Smith whose effort was caught by home keeper Frankie Leonard.
But the luck fell to Bearsted as they took the lead on 28 minutes as shot from Richard Jimoh took an unlucky deflection off Cleaver and looped over Kennedy into the Hythe net. Hythe then had their fair share of good fortune as Nathan Light rifled an effort straight against the right hand upright and then Jimoh had an attempt parried away by Kennedy.
Just one minute into additional the Cannons were gifted a goal as a bizarre back pass from Sonny Jackson went well past Leonard into the home net to bring the scores level. Hythe could go in at the break well satisfied with their performance.
The second half started slowly for the visitors as on 49 minutes a free kick from Reuben Jones was headed wide from close range by another former Hythe plyer in Billy Lewins. Then on 63 minutes Kennedy came charging out of his penalty area to attempt a clearance, but he failed and the ball fell to Jimoh who planted his effort into the net to make it 2-1.
However, that lead was only too last five minutes as a cross from Husthwaite was sent into a crowd of players in the penalty area finding it found the head of Charlie Johnston who finished well for the equaliser.
On 77 minutes the hosts found the winner as the Hythe defence failed to clear and substitute Ashton Mitford forced the ball home. To their credit Hythe went in search of another equaliser with a shot from Husthwaite being saved by Leonard and then two minutes into injury time Max Cooper blasted into the side netting but that was that.
The young Hythe team can hold their heads up high as they didn’t let anyone down despite the defeat and those Hythe supporters attending the game went home proud of the performance.
Team: Dan Kennedy, Isaac Edwards, Jerzy Krzyszka, Alfie Williams, Aiden Cassidy, Josh Cleaver, Richie Keil, Blu Husthwaite (Kofi Boateng 90 mins), Steadman Callender (Charlie Johnston 58 mins), Sam Smith (Max Cooper 57 mins), Robbie Keil. Subs Unused: Harry Brooks, Kacey Richards.
Scorers: Bearsted – Richard Jimoh 28 & 63 mins, Ashton Mitford 77 mins. Hythe Town – Sonny Jackson (OG) 45+1 mins, Charlie Johnston 68 mins.
Yellow Card: Isaac Edwards 78 mins.
Attendance: 100
