Christchurch Resurrected At The Last - Hythe And Dibden vs. Christchurch

Trees surround Clayfields

So when looking through the weekend just gone's fixtures, none really stood out until I started reading up on the best way to reach Hythe And Dibden's Clayfields ground (more on that later). The visitors to Clayfields were Christchurch who were relegated from the Premier Division last season and were currently a few points off the promotion places. I was adamant I'd seen Christchurch play somewhere before and after trawling through the records it turned out I'd seen them play at Lymington last season. They lost 3-1 on that day and they were hoping for better luck today. Hythe And Dibden have had quite a few postponements this season due to the horrid winter and a week or so without rain meant the pitch was fine at kick off.

Kick off at Clayfields

Christchurch create a great chance right from kick off but the effort is put well over the bar. They make another chance when the ball is drilled into the area just out of reach of the advancing attacker. Hythe's first chance comes when a Christchurch attack breaks down around the half way line but the eventual shot is blocked by a defender. Christchurch take the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances when a shot from a corner is well saved by the keeper and the ball hits the back of a defender and goes into the net to put the visitors one up. They have a brilliant chance to immediately double their lead but the forward doesn't take the chance and pokes the ball wide. In the final moments of the half, a great Hythe ball into the box just eludes the striker.

Christchurch defend a lofted ball in the first half

Again Christchurch come close at the beginning of the half when another chance from a corner is volleyed over the bar. They are made to regret that miss as everyone bar the Hythe attacker stops as the ball is driven across the box and he slides in the equaliser at the back post. The home side come close to taking the lead when a free kick is headed just over. They do take the lead from a close range header following a cross from the left winger. Christchurch now go looking for the equaliser and they are nearly played in via a chipped ball through ball but the Hythe keeper just beats the forward to the ball. The Hythe keeper makes a great save from a headed effort and he is relived to see the rebound blasted over. He is however powerless as Christchurch equalise with the last action of the game. In the final minute of injury time they win a corner and send the keeper up and it is one of the outfield players who powers a header home to make it two two.

The Christchurch player controls the ball in front of the stand

The journey to Hythe was one of the more interesting ones this season. The closest railway station is Southampton which is reached by trains from Waterloo with the journey taking about an hour and forty minutes. Then following a short walk through the town you can catch a ferry to the end of Hythe pier. From here you catch the pier railway to the town and this is shown in the picture below. Right by the end of the pier is The Lord Nelson which had a couple of ales as well as the sports channels for the early kick off. Just round the corner is Ebenezers which had a wider selection of ales. Clayfields is then about a fifteen minute walk from the town centre. The clubhouse had the usual selection of drinks as well as BT Sports.

Hythe defending in the first half

Hythe pier railway