By Josh Cole
We travel to a struggling Hythe Town for another Isthmian South-East encounter!
Last time out we lost at home to Sevenoaks. Read the match report from that game by clicking here.
HYTHE TOWN – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:
The Cannons are currently second bottom, sitting in 21st position with 14 points from 23 games. After a replay with Abbey Rangers, Hythe were knocked out of the FA Cup in the extra preliminary round. But on opening day they beat Phoenix Sports, only to lose their next three games, including in the FA Trophy first qualifying round.
They managed to get their second league win, beating Herne Bay but then lost another three games, which saw them be knocked out of the Velocity Cup. Hythe did however progress into the Kent Senior Cup second round with a win against Sheppey. Their league form worsened and this time they went four games without a win, which included a 6-0 drubbing against Sittingbourne. They also were knocked out of the Kent Senior Cup by Deal in the second round.
Again, at home, they won, this time vs Lancing and their form picked up compared to the rest of the season as they lost before drawing with Herne Bay, then lost another two games before winning against Steyning Town and drawing against Littlehampton. Their last five matches have all ended in defeat and are currently three weeks into January playing just once, on the 1st so they may lack match sharpness.
View the full league table by clicking here.
LAST FIVE: HYTHE TOWN
3-0 Loss vs Three Bridges, away (League)
0-2 Loss vs Burgess Hill, home (League)
0-2 Loss vs Ashford United, home (League)
2-1 Loss vs Phoenix Sports, away (League)
3-1 Loss vs Sheppey United, away (League)
LAST FIVE: MARGATE
2-2 Draw vs Ramsgate, home (League)
0-2 Win vs East Grinstead, away (League)
1-2 Win vs Herne Bay, away (League)
1-1 Draw vs Merstham, home (League)
1-2 Loss vs Sevenoaks Town, home (League)
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS (all comps)
HYTHE TOWN:
Matches played: 29
Goals scored: 26
Goals conceded: 71
GD: -45
Clean sheets: 1
MARGATE:
Matches played: 37
Goals scored: 72
Goals conceded: 35
GD: +37
Clean sheets: 15
HEAD-TO-HEAD: (all data comes from the Margate history website)
Hythe: 4 wins
Draws: 2
Margate: 5 wins
Our first ever meeting with the cannons came in 1912 in the Kent amateur cup and The ‘Gate won 7-1! Our last trip to Hythe however wasn’t as good as in September 2023, in the Kent Senior Cup first round we lost 2-1.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Howard Collins
Assistants: Byron Beard & Alan Budden
UP THE ‘GATE