Hythe Town 2-1 Dover Athletic - Fisk "shocked" as his side produce giant-killing

HYTHE TOWN 2-1 DOVER ATHLETIC
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 29^th September 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Reachfields Stadium

A determined display from Kent League side Hythe Town produced a giant-killing as they knocked their Ryman League Division One South neighbours Dover Athletic out of the FA Cup today.

A crowd of 1,109 saw Hythe Town out-fought their higher league opponents, as they won their battles all over the pitch and deserved to win this second qualifying round clash between two clubs that are just fifteen miles apart.

Hythe Town, unbeaten in six games at Reachfields Stadium, got off to a dream start, taking the lead through a Craig Wilkins’ own-goal after just 265 seconds.

And they virtually booked their place in Monday’s third qualifying round draw when Lee Winfield kept his cool and netted his fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot with fourteen minutes of this pulsating game remaining.

Dover Athletic defender Matt Bourne, who gave away that penalty, headed home a consolation goal with 49:01 second half minutes on the clock, but Hythe Town fully deserved their victory.

Home wins over another Ryman League Division One South side, Whyteleafe in the preliminary round (2-1) and Sussex County League side, Littlehampton Town (3-1), put the hosts in confident mood.

Dover Athletic meanwhile, were playing their third successive away game in the competition, having won at Sussex County League side Redhill (1-0) in the preliminary round and then league rivals Burgess Hill Town (2-0).

The Whites were without striker Lee Browning, who was cup-tied having played and scored Sittingbourne’s only goal in their preliminary round win over Chertsey Town.

And Hythe Town kept the same starting eleven that knocked Shoreham out of the FA Vase seven days ago.

The pumped-up Hythe Town side contained ex-Dover Athletic players, goalkeeper Paul Hyde, central midfielder, Dale Skelton, who was excellent, and the Kent League highest goalscorer, eleven goal striker, Michael Smissen, in their ranks.

The Hythe Town contingent, however, were celebrating as their heroes drew first blood inside the opening five minutes.

Central midfielder Ian Hayes cut inside Dover Athletic left-back, James Rogers before slipping the ball to Smissen on the right.

And the low cross from the 22-year-old was met by Wilkins, who, some eight-yards from goal, stuck out his right-foot and the ball rolled past a flat-footed Dean Ruddy into the bottom right-hand corner.

Hythe should have doubled their lead after fifteen minutes, courtesy of a move from two ex-Whites.

Skelton’s right-footed cross was chested down by Smissen, and then he drove his shot past American Ruddy but the ball screamed into the side netting.

Dover Athletic’s first chance came a minute later when player-boss Andy Hessenthaler cut a corner back to skipper Jon Wallis on the edge of the penalty box.

Wallis dummy carved open a chance for former Gillingham striker Frannie Collin, who drove a right-footed shot past the far-post from twenty-yards.

Hythe Town goalkeeper, Hyde, 44, received plenty of stick from the travelling contingent throughout, and he made a comfortable save to deny James Dryden after 24 minutes, catching a right-footed shot from fifteen-yards.

Skelton, meanwhile, was never going to beat Ruddy with a right-footed drive from 25-yards, following a square pass from Smissen.

Just past the half-hour mark, Dryden shot straight at Hyde with a right-footed shot from sixteen-yards, after Mark Lovell knocked down Wallis’ right-footed free-kick.

And Hessenthaler burst into the penalty area, following Matt Fish’s throw in, but stabbed the ball past the foot of the near post from an acute angle.

Wilkins almost made amends for his earlier miss-fortune when his towering header, following Hessenthaler’s free-kick, sailed just past the far-post from six-yards.

Hythe’s resilience, however, ensured they deserved their one-goal lead the break - and dreaming of a Cup upset.

The first chance arrived seven minutes into the second half through former Ashford Town left-back Ian Ross.

Ross’s free-kick was headed out by John Keister, who played in a three-man midfied with Hessenthaler and Wallis, and found Ross but he lashed a left-footed volley over.

But a stunning double save from Hyde prevented Wilkins scoring from two bullet headers, following Hessenthaler corners, after 54 minutes.

Those two saves came at a crucial time in the game and ensured that Hythe made it through to the next round and are now only two wins away from the first round proper.

With 24 minutes remaining, Simon Rainbow, formerly of Folkestone Invicta, scuffed his right-footed drive from 30-yards and Ruddy was able to make a comfortable save - but Hythe needed that crucial second goal to kill the game.

By this time Dover had all three of their substitutes on the pitch, playing four men up front.

And versatile Wilkins, who switched from central defence to striker, was denied in the 67^th minute when he stabbed Collin’s low centre agonisingly past the foot of the left-post, whilst under pressure from Gavin Ransley.

Smissen’s left-footed half-volley brought a comfortable low smart save from Ruddy a minute later.

The game exploded in the 73^rd minute when Dover substitute, Byron Walker was smashed into the barrier by Hythe defender Sam Marsh, sparking a 17-man melee, whilst the slender former Chatham Town man received treatment.

Marsh, for the foul, and Hessenthaler, were both booked following the flashpoint.

But a fine solo run from former Folkestone Invicta striker Joe Neilson earnt Hythe Town a penalty with just fourteen minutes left.

Neilson beat Dover defender, substitute, Liam Quinn before cutting inside and was fouled by Bourne inside the penalty area.

Winfield, however, kept his cool and sent Ruddy the wrong way with a right-footed penalty, and a shock was on the cards.

Collin’s glancing header, after Wilkins flicked on Matt Fish’s whipped in cross from the right, was comfortably saved by Hyde.

And Wallis’ right-footed drive from the left-hand side of the penalty area, was never going to beat Hyde.

But sun-tanned Hyde was beaten after four minutes and one second of stoppage time when Bourne powered home a header following Hessenthaler’s free-kick on the right, but it was too late for the Whites to mount a dramatic comeback.

Hythe Town boss, Paul Fisk, meanwhile, was in a state of shock following his side’s famous victory.

“I was hopeful it might happen and now it has happened, very happy, boardroom, and the whole club really,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Quietly spoken and modest Fisk said: “I’ve been through a lot this afternoon. I haven’t been very quiet in the dressing room but I think I’m just tying to take it all in to be honest.

“I mean, it’s not often that Hythe are going to beat somebody like Dover, with a big crowd here, it’s sort of a big experience for me really.”

He added: “We went into the game confident, obviously not over confident and we’ve come out winners - we now look forward to the next round.”

Although disappointed that his side lost their first game after an unbeaten run of nine, Hessenthaler praised Hythe after the match.

“Disappointing obviously but give them, give Hythe some credit,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“They worked their socks off today and I think the better team won. They deserved to win at the end of the day.

“We have to take it on the chin. Disappointing that our run of unbeaten games has come to an end but we’ve now got to focus on the league but credit to them, we just didn’t perform today.”

The Gillingham legend added: “Disappointing day for us today because it’s always nice to go on a FA Cup run. I’ve been involved in many Cup runs over the years and it would have been nice to get through to the next round, but it’s not too be.”

But promotion out of their division is the main aim for the Whites this season.

“We’ve got to concentrate on the (league),” said Hessenthaler. “We’ve got FA Trophy next weekend, we’ve got a game Monday night (at home to Eastbourne Town) in the League Cup.

“The FA Trophy next weekend, against Potters Bar, so that’s a game we’ve got to focus on so hopefully we can go on a run in the FA Trophy.

“But as I say disappointing day today but credit to them. We’ve got to move on and look forward to the next game.

“We didn’t perform as well as we have been doing. Too many players had an off day today but we’re not going to go through the whole season without losing a game.

“Unfortunately it’s happened in the FA Cup today, let’s hope it doesn’t happen in the league.

“We want to go on an unbeaten run in the league and our main priority obviously this season is to get promotion.

“Some might say that going on a long run in the FA Cup could be a distraction for our league programme but I didn’t look at it that way because FA Cup is the FA Cup.

“It’s the best cup around and we wanted to go on a decent run but we move on and we start looking forward to the next game.”

Hythe Town: Paul Hyde, Tom Adlington, Ian Ross, Sam Marsh, Gavin Ransley, Dale Skelton, Simon Rainbow, Ian Hayes, Michael Smissen (Jason Brazier 84), Joe Neilson (Roy Godden 81), Lee Winfield.
Subs: Dan Fisk, Will Dunlop, Nick Day.

Goals: Craig Wilkins 5 (og), Lee Winfield 76 (pen)

Booked: Sam Marsh 73, Gavin Ransley 85

Dover Athletic: Dean Ruddy, Matt Fish, James Rogers (Sam Gore 70), Matt Bourne, John Keister, Craig Wilkins, Jon Wallis, Andy Hessenthaler, James Dryden (Byron Walker 63), Frannie Collin, Mark Lovell (Liam Quinn 63).
Subs: Ryan Andrews, Gavin Wright.

Goal: Matt Bourne 90

Booked: James Rogers 52, Andy Hessenthaler 73, Matt Fish 77

Attendance: 1109
Referee: Mr A Parker (Stanford-le-Hope, Essex)
Assistants: (to be confirmed) & Mr M Spradbery (Grays, Essex)

If anyone knows who the first match official was - please click on CONTACT US. The original assistant, Mr M Cottee was replaced.