Hythe Town 3-1 Folkestone Invicta

Two second half goals from striker Buster Smissen gave Kent League side Hythe Town a morale-boosting pres-season win over Ryman Premier League neighbours Folkestone Invicta at a sunny Reachfields in Wednesday night’s Jim Robb Memorial trophy encounter.

Smissen struck twice in the final 20 minutes after Joe Neilson had given Paul Fisk’s side an early lead before Roland Edge brought Invicta level during the first half.

Invicta made Damian Abel captain for the night on his return to his former club and the striker blasted over with the game’s first chance after four minutes when left back Edge played the ball over in a move started by Mark Saunders.

But it was Hythe who opened the scoring a minute later when NEILSON found the net after Dale Skelton touched the ball across to him when goalkeeper Kieron Mann came out to save from Smissen following a ball forward from right back John Walker which put the striker away down the left hand side of the box.

Few Invicta fans would have begrudged 20-year-old Neilson a goal against his former club after he had broken his leg towards the tail end of last season not long after joining the Reachfields club.

Invicta responded as James Corbett shot off the inside of the post from a central position 30 yards out in the ninth minute.

A Corbett free kick was headed just wide by Edge after 11 minutes following a foul by Hythe centre half Sam Marsh and Abel shot into the side netting five minutes later when he capitalised on a rare mistake by Walker after striking partner Leigh Bremner had put the ball past goalkeeper Ben Buckingham.

And a powerful header from EDGE brought Invicta level in the 20th minute when one-time Gillingham team mate Corbett sent over a corner from the right following a spell on Invicta pressure.

At the other end, Smissen fired wide from just outside the penalty area after 24 minutes.

A Saunders shot was blocked in the Hythe penalty area a minute later when Corbett combined well with Abel and an Edge shot then sailed just wide of the far post across goal from the left hand side.

Invicta defender Liam Friend made a saving tackle on Smissen inside the box in the 29th minute when striking partner Neilson forced the ball across.

Goalkeeper Mann then had to race out two minutes later when a ball from left back Ian Ross played Smissen in down the right hand side.

Saunders shot wide for Invicta from the left hand side in the 32nd minute following a move involving new boys Edge and Bremner.

Corbett fired wide in the 37th minute when Abel took the ball off Marsh down the left hand side and Bremner headed wide six minutes later from a Corbett free kick when Marsh was adjudged to have fouled Abel down the right flank.

Skelton shot over from the edge of the penalty area for Hythe in the 47th minute, while at the other end Abel pulled the ball back just behind the in-coming Saunders from the right hand side of the penalty area six minutes later as the game opened up.

Tempers soon flared as referee Knight from Canterbury asked the respective benches to substitute the home side’s Roy Godden and the visitors’ goalscorer Edge after both players had raised their hands in the 57th minute.

Godden had only been on the field for two minutes having replaced Neilson.

The same fate soon befell Invicta striker Bremner after he reacted to a challenge by Walker two minutes later and Corbett also got heated on the hour.

Back to the football and there were chances at both ends in the 62nd minutes as Invicta’s David Piper cut in and shot at Buckingham from the right hand side and the ball ran away from Smissen when he latched onto a ball down the middle from Ross.

SMISSEN put Hythe ahead in the 74th minute when he fully capitalised on indecision in the Invicta defence to fire a low shot into the net.

Former Dover Athletic and Sittingbourne striker Smissen was a threat again two minutes later when he broke down the left hand side and played a low ball across.

A low Ellis Remy shot was pushed away by Hythe goalkeeper Buckingham following a James Everitt ball as Invicta chased a late equaliser in the 82nd minute.

But SMISEN sealed Hythe’s victory with his second goal of the night in the 86th minute when his looping header beat substitute goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge following a Ross free kick from the left after a foul by former Hythe player Roy Guiver.

Substitute striker Aiden Pursglove then headed at Stonebridge following a deep Ross cross from the left hand side in the final minute.

HYTHE TOWN: Buckingham, Walker, Ross, Marsh, Dunlop, Skelton, Brazier (Hayes 64 mins), Fisk, Smissen, Neilson (Godden 54 mins, Pursglove 56 mins), Winfield (Luckham 83 mins).  Unused subs: Russell, Walmsley, Sparks. 

FOLKESTONE INVICTA: Mann (Stonebridge 45 mins), Pamukov, Edge (Glyde 56 mins), Piper, Friend (Chappell 64 mins), Okikiolu (Guiver 64 mins), Abel, Briggs, Saunders (M. Everitt 64 mins), Bremner (Remy 58 mins), Corbett (J. Everitt 64 mins).