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Hythe Town reach the last 32 of the FA Trophy for the first time after beating Whitehawk 3-2 in rearranged third-round tie

Hythe pulled off another FA Trophy upset to continue their record-breaking run in the competition.

The Cannons beat Isthmian Premier Whitehawk 3-2 in last night’s rearranged third-round tie at Reachfields.

Hythe Town boss Steve Watt. Picture: Ian Scammell
Hythe Town boss Steve Watt. Picture: Ian Scammell

Victory sets up a home tie against National League North outfit Chorley in the last 32 on January 13, with £5,250 in prize money on offer to the winners.

Goals from Aaron Barnes and Jake Embery gave Hythe a 2-0 lead against Whitehawk.

The visitors, who beat Hythe in last season’s Isthmian South East play-off final, replied through Josh Nadhra with nine minutes left.

Bradley Schafer quickly restored the two-goal cushion before Charlie Walker set up a tense finish.

Hythe, conquerors of National South Tonbridge last time out, had never been beyond the first round before this season.

Chorley, who moved up to fourth in National League North on Tuesday night, will provide another big test in round four.

Cannons boss Steve Watt said: “The boys were outstanding and fully deserved to go through.

“I can only speak about my time here and it’s got to be up there with reaching the play-off final last year.

“When you put it in perspective and think of all the teams who enter the competition, and you're down to the last 32, it’s quite a big achievement.

“It’s definitely up there with one of the best achievements I’ve had as a manager but it’s all about these players and what they’ve done.

“They’re the ones out there, putting their bodies on the line and going that extra mile to get where we’ve got to. I can’t praise them enough.

“For a little club like Hythe to be in the last 32, it’s great to give all the volunteers who work at the club those memories and those moments.

“Play-off final last year and now this, these moments will live long in their memory and I think that’s the biggest achievement.

“Players and managers come and go but these people are always there. They keep the club running.

“There’s so many people you could mention - they know who they are.

“They still talk about the Hereford game and that great FA Cup run they had, and hopefully last season and this season will be talked about for years to come as well.

“That’s the most pleasing thing - going up to the bar afterwards and seeing how happy everyone was.”

Back in league action, Hythe are looking to make amends when they face the “best footballing side in the division”.

That’s how highly Watt rates a Chichester outfit who thumped his men 5-0 in September.

It was a rare bad day for Hythe, who normally give little away at the back.

Take out the City result and they’ve conceded just nine goals in their other 11 Isthmian South East games.

The Cannons, who had debutant keeper Jack West-Astuti sent off at 4-0 down, know the task facing them at Reachfields this Saturday (3pm).

“We got slapped that day - battered,” said Watt.

“I think Chichester are the best footballing side in the league by quite a long way.

“I said that last year and it’s no different this year.

“They are the best footballing team in the league and a really tough game.

“Obviously we don’t concede many and we certainly don’t concede five very often.

“We made mistakes that day and Liam (Smith, defender) ended up in goal at one stage.

“However, take nothing away from Chichester - they fully deserved to beat us.

“They’re a team that can beat anyone convincingly in this league so we’ve got to go out and put right what happened at their place.

“It’s definitely something the boys will be looking to do.”

The Cannons host struggling Beckenham on Tuesday (7.45pm).

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