OLDLAND'S VASE HOPES DIE A DE'ATH

Jerome Ingram gave his side an early lead but two goals from Hythe's new signing Simon De'Ath pulled the tie round in the home side's favour. And when Hakeem Osumah added a third, it looked like curtains for the O's. Some great work down the right saw Ashley McDowell's shot take a deflection off Tom Hutton for a second but it was merely a consolation.

Kicking off down the slope, Oldland couldn't have wished for a better start. Just 75 seconds in, Wayne Pearce flicked on for Jerome Ingram to control and lash in a shot too hot for home keeper Tom Peters to handle. Ryan Perry then saved well from Osumah while both Ashley Hawkins and Tom Hutton had chances to double Oldland's lead.

The equaliser came on the half hour through Hythe's prolific new signing Simon De'Ath. A ball over the top saw the Romsey striker in on goal and he volleyed home well for his third goal since signing in midweek.

The remainder of the half and the beginning of the second saw the home side with the territorial advantage. Perry saved again from Osumah, De'Ath headed inches wide and Matt Spencer fired narrowly over the crossbar as they looked for the lead. But Oldland fought back and gradually got on top so when the next goal arrived on seventy minutes, it was a surprise that it was from Hythe.

De'Ath found himself one-on-one and beat Perry to make it 2-1 and the big forward thought he was going home with the matchball when he netted his third goal on 74 minutes minutes but the assistant referee's flag denied him a hat trick. However, Hythe fans were celebrating two minutes later though as Osumah's shot took a deflection off an Oldland defender and dribbled into the net.

Oldland threw more men forward in an attempt to force extra time and they grabbed a goal back with three minutes of normal time remaining. Ashley McDowell produced some trickery down the right flank and cut inside, shooting towards goal but taking a deflection off Tom Hutton and into the net.

But time ran out on the O's Vase dream and it will be Hythe & Dibden who march on to a second qualifying round local derby against neighbours Totton & Eling.