Whitstable Town 3 Hythe Town 1
Southern Counties East Premier Division
Monday 6th April 2026
The Cannons again put up a great performance as they came within a few minutes of getting an unlikely draw as they went down 3-1 at champions Whitstable Town on Monday afternoon.
Hythe made three changes to the starting line up with Jerzy Krzyszka and Ikye Dalton returning and Judah Hushie making his first start replacing Rotimi Johnson who was on the bench. Levi Burgin and Marley St Louis were unavailable.
The early exchanges were even with Whitstable creating their first opportunity on nine minutes as Ronald Sithole broke down the right, but the Hythe defence forced him wide and his shot went wide. Two minutes later the visitors had their first opening as Monty Saunders whipped in a cross towards Richie Keil who couldn’t quite get to the ball.
Former Cannon Javaun Splatt broke through but his final effort wide of the target. Splatt was then to head over but Hythe continued to create chances as Richie Keil crossed into to Dalton who headed into the arms of Whitstable keeper Daniel Colmer. Hythe Keeper Ben Gamage put in another excellent performance as he saved from Tyler Hatton and then he palmed a shot from Joe Healy round the upright. Healy should have done better two minutes to the break when he lifted the ball over the bar.
The Cannons deserved to be level at the break and continued to stand firm at the start of the second period, and the League Champions were restricted to limited opportunities as Connor Wilkins had the only home attempt in the first quarter of an hour of the half with his shot sailing over the crossbar. Hythe were still creating their own chances as Blu Husthwaite sent in an effort that went just over the bar.
As the half progressed the pressure from the hosts increased as a cross from Jayden Boulton was headed over by Hatton and then Gamage tipped a shot over from another former Cannon Will Thomas.
The Hythe defence was finally broken on 76 minutes as a cross from the right was met by the head of Finn O’Mara to give Whitstable the lead. However, that advantage only lasted six minutes as the ever-dangerous Elijah Abatan sent in a cross that found Husthwaite at the far post who sent his header into the corner of the Whitstable net.
With the time ticking away Whitstable got their noses back on front on 87 minutes as ex Hythe midfielder Bradley Schafer fired home. As the game went into injury time Healy tried to lob the ball over Gamage, but it bounced onto the upright and away. Two minutes into injury time Whitstable got their third, as a corner was headed in by O’Mara.
The teams work rate and commitment could not be faulted, and it would hard to find a player who had not put in a shift. Hythe really deserved a point, and a 3-1 win flattered the hosts, but it was not to be.
Team: Ben Gamage, Folarin Awoleke, Blu Husthwaite, Olu Shobowale, Jerzy Krzyszka (Alfie Williams 90+7 mins), Robbie Keil (Zian Nanda90+7 mins), Elijah Abatan (Keaton Baverstock 90+7 mins), Monty Saunders, Judah Hushie (Rotimi Johnson 62 mins), Richie Keil, Ikye Dalton (Kacey Richards 69 mins).
Scorers: Whitstable Town – Finn O’Mara 76 and 90+2 mins, Bradley Schafer 87 mins. Hythe Town – Blu Husthwaite 81 mins.
Yellow Cards: Jerzy Krzyszka 28 mins, Monty Saunders 35 mins.
Attendance: 772.
