A season to remember for Hythe ended in Isthmian South East play-off final defeat at Whitehawk.

The Cannons gave everything at the Enclosed Ground but were edged by Charlie Harris’ goal shortly before half-time.

What a campaign it’s been, though, for the Cannons, who’ve upset the odds time and time again to reach the play-offs, winning 14 of their final 19 league games and finishing with the best defence in the division.

Underdogs Hythe made one change to the side who won on penalties in the semi-finals at Ramsgate, with Jarred Trespaderne replacing the injured Marvin Hamilton in midfield.

There was a place on the bench for 38-year-old Nathan Elder, a player well known in these parts from his Brighton days, and a man Cannons boss Steve Watt knows will always help him out when he can even though he’s pretty much retired these days.

With extra-time taking it out of the Cannons on Tuesday, they could have done with defending the Hawks’ notorious slope in the first half while the night was still young.

The hosts, however, won the toss and Hythe knew what was coming.

True, it gave Hythe a chance to try to build a lead going downhill in the first half but Whitehawk know how to play their pitch.

Lex Allan won multiple flick-ons from Steve Phillips goal-kicks but a tired Hythe side couldn’t get anything going in attack.

Indeed, their only effort on goal in the first half was a 30-yard free-kick from Frannie Collin that was comfortably held by Luke Glover.

Allan also had the beating of Hawks targetman Rob O’Toole when the home side went long in what was still a tight game.

But the big moments in the first half belonged to Whitehawk and they eventually took the lead shortly before half-time.

O’Toole and Charlie Lambert missed decent early openings in the box, followed by a howler when Alfie Rogers somehow fired wide after Steve Phillips coud only parry another Lambert strike.

Whitehawk suffered a double injury blow before the first half was out, losing semi-final matchwinner Nathan Cooper and Lambert.

But they took the lead two minutes before the break, with Harris firing into the bottom corner after his initial free-kick came back off the wall.

You felt for Hythe as they stared up the slope waiting for the referee’s whistle to start the second half.

One more big effort was required and if there’s one thing you know about this side, they never know when they’re beaten.

They got the ball in Whitehawk’s final third several times in the opening exchanges, getting it forward quickly the best route to goal.

There was defending to be done at the other end, with Hythe throwing bodies in the way in the box, while Phillips made a smart tipover when substitute Will Miles got his head to a corner.

Cannons boss Watt introduced striker Jeff Duah-Kessie in place of Trespaderne with 20 minutes left, getting another body up top to support Johan Caney-Bryan.

Duah-Kessie was almost in from a Marcus Goldsmith cross as Hythe somehow found the energy to push on in search of an equaliser, before Shad Ngandu fired wide after cutting inside.

Elder joined the action with three minutes remaining as Hythe went for broke.

What a story that would have been had the veteran big man found an equaliser. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

Whitehawk: Glover, Morrison, Wright, Brewer, Cooper (Miles 22mins), Cocoracchio, Rogers (Moore 90+2mins), Harris, Lambert (Oti 35mins), O’Toole, Daly. Subs not used: Robinson, Price-Placid.

Hythe: Phillips, L Smith, Goldsmith (Elder 87mins), Steventon, Fregene, Allan, E Smith Itauma 80mins), Trespaderne (Duah-Kessie 70mins), Caney-Bryan, Collin, Ngandu. Subs not used: Stirman, Williamson.

Referee: Morgan Conn.

Attendance: 1,428.