Haitham and Jones pounce to keep Chichester City in play-off hunt

Second half goals from Kaleem Haitham and Scott Jones were enough to see off Hythe Town, who struck a late consolation through substitute Alex Brown as City played a first fixture in a fortnight after a string of postponements including a midweek cancellation just four minutes before kick-off away at Whitehawk.

It finished goalless at the Reachfields Stadium the last time these two faced off in the reverse fixture back in October. Since then Town boast the second-best form in the league coming into the match with just one defeat in seven, a 3-0 loss against Whitehawk.

Town defeated Islanders Guernsey last time out, while Chichester recorded back to back away victories over Three Bridges and Guernsey. The Sussex side were looking to record three straight wins for the first time in their inaugural campaign at step four.

City made two changes from the side that convincingly beat Guernsey as Scott Jones returned to lead the line in place of the suspended Josh Clack and Haitham came in for Gicu Iordache. Sam Ndlovu joined the bench in place of Canadian midfielder Emmett Dunn.

Chichester started the better of the two sides and Haitham was the first to test Town keeper William Godmon with a shot straight at the stopper.

Haitham had a glorious chance to give the hosts an early lead as just past the ten-minute mark City countered from a Hythe corner with Ryan Davidson’s powerful header clear finding Rob Hutchings and the auxiliary winger lofted a through ball for Haitham to scamper on to. However, the Chi man could only fire inches wide across the goal after he tried to round the goalkeeper.

Haitham was involved in another Chichester chance, the No.11 playing Jones away down the wing and the forward cutting it back to find Haitham lurking in the box - but his effort was straight into Godmon’s gloves.

Steve Mowthorpe had to race off his line to clear a dangerous through ball as he got there just ahead of Town top scorer Frannie Collin.

Danny Walder was shown the first of four Hythe yellow cards as entered the book for a tactical foul on Haitham to stop a Chichester counter.

A couple of good chances came the hosts way as they look the more threatening side. Firstly, Matt Axell did brilliantly to dribble past a couple of Hythe defenders and link up with Haitham, whose shot was saved by the feet of Godmon.

Then the stopper was called into action just seconds later as Hutchings produced a dangerous cross to the far post and captain Connor Cody headed goalwards. The Town keeper produced a stunning save to claw the ball away.

Hutchings felt he should have had a penalty as Jones flicked a ball through for him the drive on to, but Nathan Gordon came back on the recovery to produce a great last-ditch tackle.

For all their first half dominance Chi couldn’t find a breakthrough, but it took just a couple of minutes of the second half for them to get the goal their play deserved.

In the 47th minute Haitham picked up the ball and skipped past the full-back’s challenge and his cross rather fortuitously looped over a helpless Godmon into the back of the net to give the home side the lead and also give Haitham his third goal in as many games.

Chichester looked to double their lead and came just inches from doing so after Jamie Horncastle picked up the ball and fired a shot from long distance which bounced off the upright.

Haitham almost grabbed his second when Axell crossed with his left foot and picked him out after a dart to the near post, but his flicked header flashed wide.

Davidson drilled a dangerous low ball across the box which just evaded Lloyd Rowlatt and a sliding Jones at the far post couldn’t divert his effort on target. There was another chance for Chi as Rowlatt dragged an effort just wide after Horncastle teed him up.

City got their second goal on 77 minutes after Axell whipped in a dangerous free kick into the box and Jones rose highest to beat Goodmon to the ball and nod home for Chichester’s second and his ninth of the season.

The Cannons did manage to pull a goal back in a rare attack on 88 minutes when substitute Ross Ibbertson picked out an unmarked Alex Brown at the back post and the fellow Hythe Town substitute managed to loop his header over Mowthorpe and prevent Chi from keeping back to back clean sheets.

Hythe pressed for an equaliser. It was a nervy final few minutes for the home fans but a resilient City back line stood strong as Corey Heath did well to intercept a Gordon cross and then Alex Flisher hooked a high awkward ball into the Chichester box but Mowthorpe did well to punch clear and make sure City held on for the win.

The victory leaves Chichester nine points outside the play-offs in seventh position but they have five games in hand over fifth-placed Herne Bay, who are Chi’s next opponents at Oaklands on Tuesday (February 25, 7:45pm) as they look to avenge their recent 2-0 loss over the Kent outfit and close the gap on them. Then on Saturday City head to league leaders Ashford United, who thumped Guernsey 6-0 on the weekend.

Chichester: Mowthorpe, Davidson, Pashley, Axell, C Cody, Heath, Hutchings, Horncastle, Jones, Rowlatt, Hutchings. Subs: Peake, Biggs, Bennetts, G Cody, Ndlovu.