Report

Green let slip one goal lead before sufffering a second half collapse which saw them miss out on finishing in 11th position and allowed Hythe to end the season as Runners Up behind VCD Athletic.. Green began the game strongly and with just 90 seconds on the clock Kris Holllidge played a deep cross to the far post towards Juan Ramirez who failed to make proper contact with the ball. However with his very next attack Ramirez ensured Green would take a 4th minute lead. Ramirez dinked in from the left before being upended by Mark Bond. Ramirez picked himself up off the floor to coolly slot home his 10th goal of the campaign. The visitors then threatened Billy Somerville was thwarted by keeper Jack Durrell following Gary Mickleborough's smart lay off while Jimmy Beauchamp hacked Mickleborough's lob off the line. At the other end Jason Long almost doubled Green's lead with a stinging free kick that keeper Paul Hyde managed to gather at the second attempt having failed to hold onto Long's initial effort. With 15 minutes played Hythe drew level, Mickleborough guided lofted ball forward that crashed against both post's and although Grant Cunningham had looked to have cleared the ball on the line the linesmen flagged and referee Rob Baker awarded a goal. The second half was just 2 minutes old when Raphael Akala's right wing cross picked out Ramirez who headed narrowly wide. However from this point on there was only going to be one winner due to some erratic Green defending combined with impressive power play from Hythe. Ben Sly was left unmarked at the far post but contrived to fire wide after Green had failed to deal with Lee Winfield's left wing centre. Mickleborough fired inches wide and then over the bar, Winfield directed an effort directly at Durrell before the visitors moved ahead just before the hour mark. Kngwell latched onto a long clearance and drilled the ball to Durrell-s left side and into the net. On 74 minutes Hythe struck again, Durrell did well to parry Daler Skelton's powerful strike only for Winfield to smash home the rebound. Roy Guiver was then denied by the woodwork before seeing Hythe add a fourth goal 8 minutes from time as Buster Smissen picked his spot following Kingwell's squared ball. Green hit back with a goal of their own with 4 minutes remaining. Green's two substitutes combined well, Joe Ford played in Chris Dunphy who whipped the ball into the box to find Kris Hollidge who met it and with a sweet half volley left Hyde with no chance as he sent the ball veering into the roof of the net. This spurred Green into an impressive 60 second spell. Charlie McCarthy made a powerful ruin forward before teeing up Ramirez whose cross dangerous cross into the box saw Hythe defender John Walker head against his own cross-bar. Hollidge then produced a surging run before seeing his shot dip just the wrong side of the post. Any hoped though Green had of producing a late fight back were quashed in the very last minute as Skelton was given the freedom of the penalty box before picking his spot.