Striker Duane Acheampong is back in a Hythe shirt - but fans shouldn’t get too excited. The big forward scored the Cannons’ winner in a 2-1 friendly victory over Kennington on Saturday and appeared again in a 4-1 victory at Canterbury on Tuesday.
Acheampong, who finished last season at Reachfields, is someone boss Steve Watt likes both as a player and a person. So when the 30-year-old, who remains a free agent, asked if he could train with Hythe to get his fitness up, Watt was only too happy to help. “Duane hasn’t played since the end of last season,” said Watt. “He asked if he could come in and train with us and get some minutes, and we had no problem with that. “We’re doing him a favour and we’re happy to help. “It’s something he could have done closer to home but he wanted to come to us. “If he’s honest, I think part of him wants to come back and sign here but he half knows we can’t afford it.” Hythe have taken Tonbridge youngster Leo Vowles on dual-registration.
Vowles, who’s captained the Angels academy, will benefit from first-team football at Reachfields. “He’s a player Jay (Saunders, Tonbridge boss) thinks highly of,” said Watt. “We’ve brought him in to give us more options in that area and I’m looking forward to helping him with his introduction to men’s football. “He’s come in and done well and that’s the type of player we have to attract to the club, good, young players who we can help. “Jay trusts us, he knows we’ll look after him. “Hopefully he keeps progressing and we can help him on his way.” Hythe, who visit neighbours Folkestone on Saturday (3pm), have a new physio.
Beth Cooper, who worked with Watt at Maidstone, has joined the Cannons after leaving Bromley. “I’ve worked with Beth before and a lot of the