ROUND-UP
Steve Watt says taking Hythe Town to all new heights in the Isuzu FA Trophy ranks as one of his biggest managerial achievements.
The Step 4 Cannons continued their record-breaking run in the competition with a 3-2 home win over Isthmian Premier side Whitehawk at Reachfields on Tuesday night.
It set up a home tie against National League North high-fliers Chorley in the last 32 next month – no mean feat for a club who have never previously gone beyond the first round.
Hythe, conquerors of National League South Tonbridge Angels last time out, took early control with goals from Aaron Barnes and Jake Embery before the visitors, who beat Hythe in last season's Isthmian South East play-off final, replied through Josh Nadhra on 81 minutes.
Bradley Schafer quickly restored the two-goal cushion before Charlie Walker set up a tense finale.
“The boys were outstanding and fully deserved to go through,” Watt told Kent Online. “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. 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.
“That's the most pleasing thing – going up to the bar afterwards and seeing how happy everyone was.”
Elsewhere, Weston-Super-Mare battled back from 2-0 down to knock out threetime winners Woking at Woodspring Stadium.
Rhys Browne's first-half double put the managerless Cards in control but Rex Manning halved the deficit strike three minutes into the second half.
Dayle Grubb then levelled things up seven minutes from time before the Seagulls completed the rout in stoppage-time – Grubb firing home from the penalty spot following a handball in the Woking penalty area.
Holders FC Halifax Town were knocked out after a tense penalty shootout with National League rivals Altrincham.
Alty played for 65 minutes with ten men after centre-back Sam Roscoe was sent off for a first-half foul but the Robins still held on for a goalless draw.
Eddy Jones then fired home the winning penalty after Ethan Ross had brilliantly kept out Adam Senior's spot-kick.
No such woe, however, for last year's Wembley finalists Gateshead who powered into the fourth round with a 5-1 thumping of Rochdale.
Connor McBride opened the floodgates on the stroke of half-time before Billy Chadwick and Callum Whelan put the Heed 3-0 in front.
A penalty from Dale's Tyrese Sinclair reduced the deficit but Marcus Dinanga's stoppage-time double completed the rout.
Meanwhile, NPL Premier leaders Radcliffe earned themselves an attractive home tie with Barnet after seeing off Redditch United 4-0 at the Neuven Stadium.
A first-half double from Jamie Morgan put Borough on track before late goals from Jordan Hulme and Luca Navarro wrapped things up.
Walsall Wood, the only other Step 4 side left in the draw, saw their home tie with Coalville Town fall victim to the weather.
They try again on Tuesday night, as do Wealdstone v Billericay Town, which was also postponed due to the weather.
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