Kent Premier League
11th August 2007
Lordswood  1   Hythe Town  4

    The dream start ordered by new manager Shawn Mitchell was in tatters after 21 minutes as Hythe scored three goals in that period. The first goal came in the 2nd minute when Mike Smissen received the ball on the edge of the area and he was given time to turn and his shot through a crowd of players deceived Steve Williams and ended up in the back of the net. The very next minute Lordswood nearly equalised when Lee Martin raced through into the area but his shot from an acute angle was saved by Paul Hyde probably the oldest player in the league at 43 but his experience will be crucial to Hythe. Another chance came in the 13th minute when Craig Beckwith ran on to a throw on into the area and saw his cross shot beat everyone and go out for a goal kick. Hythe increased their lead in the 14th minute when Smissen in the area 8 yards out got the ball after a scramble and shot home. Then in the 21st minute a comedy of errors occurred as Steve Williams rolled the ball out to Lee Skinner who went forward a yard and his pass went straight to Lee Winfield who was only a yard away and he ran on into the area and shot home. Lordswood had another half chance in the 28th minute when a corner ended up at the back post and Ben Chell rose but headed just over. In the 36th minute it could have been worse for Lordswood as first Jason Brazier on the right cut inside and saw his shot superbly tipped over the bar by Steve Williams and from the resulting corner Steve missed his punch under pressure and the ball was going into the goal before Lewis Taylor kicked it off the line.

    The second half was now a case of pride for Lordswood and for Hythe would they go for more or settle for what they have got. In the 52nd minute Smissen latched onto a back header went into the area but shot just past the post. In the 61st minute Lordswood should have got a goal back but what happened typified the day when a corner came to the edge of the area Adam Douglas saw his miss hit shot go towards goal where Scott Bucklen was and from 3 yards out he missed his kick when it seemed easier to score. In the very next minute Scott nearly made up for that howler when Matt McHugh on the left crossed into the area and Scott got a head of the defender but unluckily stabbed the ball just over the bar.

    Hythe increased their lead in the 69th minute when a ball into the area saw Smissen challenge for it and the ball went loose but he latched onto it and shot home for his hat trick. Lordswood looked demoralised but in the 78th minute they got a consolation goal when David Abe received the ball on the right on halfway and he sped past the defender and his shot took a slight deflection but ended up into the net for his first senior goal but 8 minutes later disaster struck Lordswood when the ball in the Hythe area saw a scramble and everyone got involved especially Ben Chell who through frustration head butted one of his own players and was sent off. The final whistle went and it seemed like the same old story from last year but everyone must remember this was a new team and they might need a bit of time to gel so lets wait.

    Attendance 62

    MAN OF THE MATCH  - No ONE

    1. STEVE WILLIAMS   2. DAN BUCKLE (DEBUT)   3. ADRIAN BAGSHAW (DEBUT)   4. LEE SKINNER (73, DEBUT)   5. BEN CHELL (DEBUT)   6. RAY BROAD (45)   7. MATT McHUGH (DEBUT)   8. CRAIG BECKWITH   9. LEE MARTIN (DEBUT)   10. SCOTT BUCKLEN (65)   11. LEWIS TAYLOR (DEBUT)   12. JIMMY COULSON   14. DANNY MALONE (73, DEBUT)   15. ALAN BACKSHELL   16. ADAM DOUGLAS (45, DEBUT)   17. DAVID ABE (65, DEBUT)  

Return To: Home Page
All information, pictures and content in this site is ŠLordswood Football Club unless expressly stated otherwise, and may not be reproduced without permission.