Sevenoaks shock will kick us up the backside, admits Porter

SCOTT PORTER says the race for the Bulmers Cider Kent League title will go right to the wire - after his Hythe Town side suffered a shock defeat at lowly Sevenoaks Town last night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The assistant manager slammed his side’s poor attitude at Greatness Park, as the league leaders crashed to a 3-2 defeat to a Sevenoaks side that were fifth-from-bottom in the table.

After Dave Cook struck a post, Mo Takaloo gave Hythe an eleventh minute lead, after scoring his fifth goal for the Reachfelds outfit, following his move from Ryman Premier League side Margate.

But Sevenoaks missed a penalty five minutes later when Dwuayne Morris’ spot-kick was turned around the post by veteran goalkeeper Paul Hyde, who was rooted to the spot as a stunning Matt Foreman free-kick and a deflected long-range strike from Errison Ahwan stunned the leaders as they went in at the break 2-1 down.

Sevenoaks striker Marcus Elliott, who impressed throughout with his electrifying pace, gave his side a 3-1 lead - after Lee Winfield’s 66^th minute spot-kick was saved by home goalkeeper Jamie Williams - before striker Michael Smissen came off the bench to head home Hythe’s second on the night.

But with Hythe surprisingly dropping points, Holmesdale closed the gap to three points as the Bromley side fought back from being 3-0 down at the break to earn a home point against Tunbridge Wells.

Criticising his side for “turning up with the wrong attitude,” Porter, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, says the Kent League title race remains wide open.

“I did hear Holmesdale were losing 3-0 at half-time, but I don’t know the final score, but if they won there back in it,” he said.

“It’s still wide open and I think it will still be wide open until the last game of the season.”

Hythe prepare for the first of three clashes against Erith Town in the space of eleven days when the Dockers arrive at Reachfields Stadium in a Bulmers Cider Kent League game on Saturday.

Steve O’Boyle's side then return next Tuesday in the first leg of the Kent League Cup semi-final and after a trip to Park View Road to play Erith & Belvedere, Hythe travel to Bayliss Avenue for the second leg on Wednesday, 25^th March.

Looking forward to the game, Porter knows who the Dockers’ danger man is - golden boot contender Marcus Cassius, who like Elliott, has pace to burn.

“They turned us over up there, the lad up front, Cassius is quick and hopefully we can deal with it,” Porter hoped.

“This (a defeat at Sevenoaks) will be a rocket up people’s (backsides) as they can’t come away from grounds like this (Greatness Park) and just stroll around thinking they’ve won the game before they’ve turned up because it just won’t happen - and hopefully it won’t happen again!

But at present, Hythe are on course to complete the double, but Porter warned that his side may end up with nothing.

“On paper yes,” came his reply. “Whether it happens or not, there’s a long way to go yet, a lot of football to be played.

“There’s a lot of good teams that we’ve got to play, Erith Town obviously, (over) two-legs, and obviously we’ve got a lot of big games at home, so there’s still plenty to play for.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Hythe Town v Erith Town
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 14^th March 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent