Hythe Town 4-1 Herne Bay - Smissen hat-trick is perfect response for Fisk

Whilst the scoreline may have been rough on Herne Bay, the visitors could not cope with the pure power and pace of Smissen, a striker on contract until the end of next season.

“It’s fantastic for me as manager to have a goalscorer like Buster in the team,” said Fisk afterwards.

“I think that’s 45 or 46 for him this season. I just wish he learned to play in both halves!!”

The manager’s comments must have referred to Smissen’s second half treble, but in truth there can be few strikers in the Kent League or higher who can boast such a return this season.

For Herne Bay it all started so brightly when Rob Lawrance gave them the lead after 12 minutes.

Simon Brown’s free-kick was nodded down by Andy Forster for Lawrence to sweep the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Bay, at this point, looked comfortable and restricted the home side to shots from distance, with their first real opportunity on 25 minutes, when Pat Kingwall got on the end of a Smissen through ball only to be denied by a fine block from goalkeeper Jack Delo.

The home side created chances after the break but in truth didn’t trouble the Herne Bay goalkeeper.

The best of these came nine minutes from half-time when Kingwell somehow smuggled the ball through to Save Cook but he was beaten by the pitch as his shot bobbled wide.

The home side were level four minutes after the break when Smissen rammed home his 43^rd of the season after out pacing the defence.

And goal number 44 wasn’t far behind as the marauding striker this time held off the attentions of Forster before rounding Delo to put the home side in front for the first time.

The hard-working Martin Chandler could have levelled for the Bay eleven minutes from time but his low drive flew just wide of Paul Hyde’s left-post.

How the Bay were to rue that missed opportunity because Smissen completed his hat-trick just three minutes later - a neat run into the inside right channel and a precise shot into the corner of the net.

Three became four, six minutes from time when a free-kick was nodded down by Kingwell to Cook who this time made no mistake from twelve yards.

Comfortably ahead, the home side were almost pegged back at the death only for Tom Adlington to deny Luke Harvey with a timely block.

“The victory was a relief!” admitted Fisk. “It was important to get our season back on track tonight after slipping of the top of the league.

“It was a good response from the boys after the Beckenham defeat.”

Hythe Town: Paul Hyde, Tom Adlington, James Gregory, Sam Marsh, Gavin Ransley, Simon Rainbow, Joe Neilson (Ian Ross 82), Dave Cook, Michael Smissen, Pat Kingwell, Lee Winfield (John Sparks 66).
Subs: Ian Hayes, Will Dunlop, Jones.

Goals: Michael Smissen 49, 53, 82, Dave Cook 84

Booked: Tom Adlington 29

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Darren Wells (Aaron Burrett 59), Sam Kettle, Andy Forster, Danny Cook, Martin Chandler, Neil Perkins (Dave Soutan 58), Simon Brown, Rob Lawrence, Luke Harvey, Rhys Lawson.
Subs: Rob Joyce, Christian Marsh.

Goal: Rob Lawrence 12

Booked: Luke Harvey 29, Darren Wells 44