Error shatters Hythe and Dibden Bournemouth Cup dreams

SYDENHAMS Division One outfit Hythe & Dibden lost out 1-0 in cruel circumstances to Premier opponents Bournemouth Poppies in the Bournemouth Senior Cup final.

Poppies River Smith scored the only goal of the game to win the final at Hurn Bridge, but the victory was sadly down to a glaring goalkeeping error from the otherwise consistent Hythe shot stopper Ellis Grant.

Bournemouth threatened first when an early Ron Frost throw was headed over the bar by Steve Flynn. Hythe’s best chance fell to Man of the Match Fillipos Terzidis, the striker was through on goal, but Poppies keeper Jones was alert to block.

Smith then supplied a pass to Flynn whose 22-yard shot was well tipped over by Hythe’s Grant. Hythe had chances, an O’Dell shot was deflected wide and from that, Pittman drove over at the near post. Then in stoppage time, a Matt Smith firm effort came off the top of the bar.

Bournemouth struck the bar early in the second half,

Cooper’s cross clipping the top of it. What proved to be the

winning goal arrived on 52 minutes when River Smith latched onto a pass and his hopeful shot seemed to be a regulation save for Grant, but the Hythe keeper took his eye off it and allowed it to slip through his legs.

Grant soon made up for his error with an excellent save from goal scorer Smith. The keeper again did well pushing away a Cooper effort. There was a late effort from Hythe and another scramble in the box, but the ball was cleared and the cup went to Bournemouth.