Boss Tony Beckingham was critical of his side’s second half performance as they slipped to a third successive County League division one defeat at the GAC Stadium.
Spencer Slaughter’s 30 yard curler, which gave keeper Adam Woodward no chance after nine minutes, was worthy of winning any game.
But given their possession Grinstead should have got something out of the game. However, in the second half in particular, they failed to match some neat approach work with efforts on goal.
Slaughter pounced after a poor header by Jazz Gold had been intercepted by Neil Kane to set up Slaughter’s wonder strike but Wasps squandered three great chances to level before half-time.
Liam Baitup side-footed over from close range after Michael Belli’s pass had set him up and in the 34th minute Hassocks’ goalkeeper Jack Simpson made an acrobatic double save to deny Ross Cable and John Sinclair.
Hassocks worked hard throughout to deny Grinstead space and they made a much more positive start to the second half and ought to have wrapped the points up when Kane blazed over from six yards with only Woodward to beat.
A minute later Baitup stabbed a low shot wide after Kieran Wilson’s storming run into the box but it turned out to be Wasps’ best effort of a half when they huffed and puffed yet failed to seriously test Simpson.
Beckingham revealed afterwards that he is looking to bring in a player to increase Wasps’ options up front.
He added: “I can’t tell you how frustrated I was and actually quite angry with the second half performance. The first half was excellent but with no goals to show for it and we conceded again within 10 minutes of the kick off for the third game in a row so we’re chasing it and they have something to fight for, which they did brilliantly.
“As a team I think we need to show more passion and desire to get the result, we seem to be happy to let the game drift somewhat.”
WASPS reached the first qualifying round of the FA Cup for the second successive year and boss Tony Beckingham sees no reason why their cup run cannot continue.
Grinstead go to Ryman League first division Whitstable on Saturday week after Liam Baitup’s hat-trick helped them secure an ultimately comfortable win over a Raynes Park outfit whose long-ball tactics were comfortably dealt with by the visitors.
Beckingham said: “Whitstable will be favourites at home but if we approach that game with the same attitude we showed on Saturday we definitely have a chance.
“Liam will quite rightly take the plaudits for his hat-trick but our defence were very solid. It is to the defenders and goalkeeper's credit that I can't actually remember Adam Woodward having a direct save to make in the second half.
“When you can go forward knowing that it would need to be something special to get past our rearguard it gives your attacking players confidence.”
Wasps fell behind after five minutes when Austin Gachero converted a penalty after Kieran Wilson had handled a cross but Wasps were level on 14 minutes when Ross Cable picked out strike partner Baitup with his cross and Baitup headed home.
Baitup nearly had a second before the break but headed just wide and Jazz Gold wasn’t far away with a long range strike.
Raynes Park were only a sporadic threat but Simon Moore nearly put them ahead on 53 minutes when he headed against the bar. Baitup was a constant menace at the other end though, heading at the keeper and then wide from John Sinclair’s cross.
A replay looked likely but Wasps broke the deadlock seven minutes from time with a well-worked goal. Cable played in Michael Belli on the left and he picked out Baitup who made no mistake from close range.
The tie was settled when Dave Stevens headed Belli’s cross into his own net but there was still time for Baitup to complete his hat-trick when he swept the ball home from close range after Stevens had failed to clear Elstrom Die’s cross.
Grinstead: Woodward, Featherstone (sub: Woolley 86), Gellatly, Sinclair, Belli (Die 86), Cooney, Gold, Piscina, Cable, Baitup, Wilson. Sub not used: Lardent.
Grinstead suffered their first home defeat of the season in a game that saw two players sent off.
Bridges were the better side early on with their quick incisive passing and movement off the ball as Lee Carney and former Grinstead striker Simon Funnell caused the Grinstead defence problems.
Their good start was rewarded with what proved to be the only goal in the eighth minute. Reece Head was harshly adjudged to have fouled Joel O’Hara, the resultant free kick was taken quickly but clearly with a moving ball although credit to Bridges for a move which resulted in O’Hara finding Carney who rifled his shot into the top corner.
Bridges were well on top at this point but Grinstead held firm to deny Bridges any real sight of goal apart from a James Grant effort that flew just wide of the far post.
Out of the blue Grinstead were given a way back into the game when Bridges were reduced to ten men. A long ball played down the line was being marshalled out of play by Drew Cooney, O’Hara tried to prevent this and a clash of legs resulted in Cooney being fouled. Then, to the astonishment of both teams, referee Mallows waved a red card at the stunned O’Hara and suddenly Bridges were on the back foot.
Grinstead probed for the equaliser but their passing wasn’t at its best and the visitors denied Grinstead any space as they struggled to breach the Bridges defence. Luke Piscina went closest in the first half with a volley from the edge of the box and Jazz Gold finally tested keeper Simon Lockwood when his low shot following a strong run was tipped round the near post.
Grinstead were left to regret not making the extra man tell on 67 minutes they were reduced to ten men, again controversially. Striker Ross Cable contested a header with Bridges defender Liam Ahearne but Mr Mallows did not stop play to award a free kick. However, seconds later, he stopped the game to allow treatment to Aheare and gave Cable a second yellow.
Grinstead continued to press for an equaliser and brought on fresh legs but Bridges dealt with everything thrown at them relatively comfortably and went close to increasing their lead when substitute George Hillier had s shot cleared off the line by Chris Dicker.
Grinstead: Woodward, Featherstone (sub: Belli 77), Dicker, Sinclair (sub: Gellatly 77), Head, Cooney, Gold (sub: Broome 89), Piscina, Cable, Baitup, Wilson. Sub not used: Lardent
BOSS Tony Beckingham had no complaints after his side slipped to their first defeat of the season against a side likely to challenge for honours this season.
Pagham are a much-changed outfit after fighting relegation last season but so are Wasps and it took a stupendous strike to condemn Grinstead after Liam Baitup had scored for the third successive game to put them in front.
Beckingham said: “We weren't quite at the races but still had enough good chances to get something from it.
“It took two good second half goals including a world-class hit from 30 yards to beat us even though we didn't play well. We can and will do better but then again I can't see many teams going to Pagham this season and coming away with an awful lot.”
The visitors, without both Peter Featherstone and Luke Piscina, gave a midfield debut to latest signing John-Paul Collier but he limped off after 20 minutes to be replaced by Elstrom Die.
But by then Wasps’ bright start had been rewarded when Dave Gellatly threaded a great pass into Baitup’s feet and he slid his shot beyond Wes Hallett.
Grinstead were good value for their lead but Pagham fought back and Kieran Wilson cleared Michael Frangou’s header off the line in the 37th minute. The reprieve was short-lived though, James Temple heading the equaliser from the resultant corner.
Wasps had a great chance to regain the lead early in the second half when Die’s pace took him clear from Ross Cable’s pass but his finish lacked composure when he only had Hallett to beat.
It was a defining moment for Pagham went ahead in the 53rd minute when Scott Murfin pounced from close range after Wasps failed to clear their lines.
And the hosts made the game safe four minutes later when full-back Andy Weir strode forward and smashed an unstoppable drive from 30 yards past a helpless Adam Woodward.
With all three subs on Wasps had to play the last ten minutes with ten men after Die was pushed into an advertising board and limped off but by then the home side were well in control.
Grinstead: Woodward, Gold, Dicker (sub: Broom 63), Sinclair, Head, Cooney, Wilson, Gellatly (sub: Belli 82), Cable, Baitup, Collier (sub: Die 20). Unused sub Lardent
Wasps moved to the top of the early first division table after producing their best performance of the season so far at Middle Road on Tuesday.
A side who always provide tough opposition, especially on their own patch, were made to look second best particularly in the first half when Wasps scored three unanswered goals and could have had more.
Boss Tony Beckingham had to make enforced changes in the absence of defenders Peter Featherstone and Gareth Broom with Drew Cooney dropping back alongside Reece Head and debutant Jazz Gold coming in on the right.
Grinstead soon settled and led after eight minutes when Gold picked out Liam Baitup’s run down the left and he rounded the goalkeeper before calmly picking his spot.
Chris Dicker, whose prowess at dead ball situations is becoming a real asset, hit the far post with an inswinging corner but on 26 minutes it was 2-0 when John Sinclair threaded a pass to Ross Cable who produced a great finish to score his second goal of the season.
Dicker set up the third on 35 minutes when Baitup headed home his corner, Dave Gellatly’s clever decoy run having set up space.
Shoreham rallied significantly after the break and finally tested goalkeeper Adam Woodward when he made a great save to keep out Lee Denyer’s left-foot strike, although Sinclair went close at the other end with a shot against the bar.
The Musselmen did pull one back after 73 minutes through sub Charlie Walker but substitute Elstrom Die ended any home hopes of a late rally when he was set up by Baitup to score his first Grinstead goal five minutes from time.
A great performance and a real marker for the rest of the season – let’s hope for more of the same in what will be an even tougher test at Pagham on Saturday (3pm).
STRIKERS Liam Baitup and Luke Piscina were both on target as Wasps cleared the first hurdle in the FA Cup on Saturday.
A comfortable victory over their Hellenic League opponents maintained Grinstead’s 100% start to the season although boss Tony Beckingham insists there is more to come from his new-look team.
He said: “It was a decent performance with a lot of positives but when we are on top of teams, as we were in the first half on Saturday, we need to be a bit more ruthless and put them away. It has been a good start but I know we can and will improve.”
Wasps swarmed over their visitors early on and Holyport keeper Kyle Bradley made excellent saves in the first 17 minutes from Kieran Wilson and Baitup while Piscina fired over from a good position.
But Grinstead struggled to maintain that tempo and Holyport, making their first appearance in the competition, twice breached the offside trap and both James Flint and Lewis Driver dragged shots off target when they only had keeper Adam Woodward to beat.
Wasps broke through just before the break when Chris Dicker delivered another excellent corner and Baitup found a yard of space to head firmly past Bradley.
Holyport were much more of a threat in the second half and Woodward made a good save in the 54th minute when he tipped Steve Deverall’s header onto the bar before keeping out Lee Jerrum’s shot with 15 minutes to go.
But once again Grinstead finished the game strongly and made sure of a trip to Raynes Park Vale in the preliminary round on August 28 with a second goal in the 90th minute when Elstrom Die, whose pace had caused problems throughout, was brought down by Bradley and Piscina scored his second goal of the season from the penalty spot.
WASPS made it back-to-back County League wins but were once again made to work hard for the three points at the GAC Stadium on Tuesday.
At times some of Grinstead’s passing football would not have disgraced a higher level of football and they scored two well-taken first-half goals.
But what should have been a comfortable night became anything but after Drew Cooney was penalised for a foul on the edge of the area in the 62nd minute and Kevin Rose beat Adam Woodward with his free-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.
Sidley pushed forward in search of an unlikely equaliser but Woodward did not have a save to make and in the closing stages Wasps nearly added further goals, notably when sub Elstrom Die set up Ross Cable whose shot was superbly tipped onto the post by Sidley keeper Gavin Bourne.
Grinstead started strongly and Cable nearly finished off an excellent passing move with a goal but found the side netting instead from the left-hand angle of the box.
Kieran Wilson wasn’t far away after another neat build-up and the deadlock was broken after 24 minutes when Cable took possession on the right-hand side of the box and curled a delightful shot beyond Bourne into the far corner.
Sidley threatened sporadically and were happy to concede free-kicks to disrupt Wasps’ passing game but that proved their undoing on the stroke of half-time when Chris Dicker’s free kick was met by a firm header from Gareth Broome who, like Cable, scored his first goal for the club.
Cable was robbed just as he was pulling the trigger by a great interception from Rose as Grinstead looked for a third goal but after the Sidley defender struck at the other end the visitors grew in confidence.
Wasps’ passing game deserted them and they became wasteful in possession although the visitors never seriously threatened an equaliser.
Wasps began their County League campaign in positive fashion with a hard earned victory over last season’s Division One runners-up at the GAC Stadium.
Grinstead fielded no fewer than six debutants after a busy summer of transfer activity by boss Tony Beckingham and at times it showed as they lacked fluidity as an attacking force but defensively were very solid with one of the debutants Peter Featherstone particularly impressive.
It is clear that Grinstead will try and get the ball down and play this season and with the East Court pitch in good condition they will have the opportunity to do this. More is definitely to come from this side and the Grinstead faithful could look forward to a season where they looking at the top end of the table rather than the bottom.
Beckingham said: “We had a lot of new players but there were still six missing and I would have settled for a draw beforehand because they are still a decent side. But we just about deserved our win I felt. The first win of the season is always the hardest to get and I’m delighted to get off the mark.”
Although Peacehaven have lost a majority of last year’s squad they have still managed to gather a team of players with plenty of County League experience so this was a stern test for the new look Grinstead side.
Peacehaven did start brighter and had the first shot on target when midfielder Scott Marshall let fly from 20 yards and his shot bounced awkwardly in front of new goalkeeper Adam Woodward who managed to tip it round the post. Woodward had a good debut and dealt with everything confidently in what was a problem position for Wasps last season when they fielded eight keepers.
Grinstead's first chance came on the quarter hour when Kieran Wilson made a strong run down the left and his cross found the unmarked Liam Baitup ten yards out but he headed just wide.
The best chance of the half fell to the visitors. Forward Ashley Rees found himself clean through with just Woodward to beat but his half-hit shot was saved by the goalkeeper’s legs.
Grinstead then had their best spell of the half when Luke Piscina was denied by a fine save from Josh Heyburn following a good cross from Michael Belli and from the resultant corner Featherstone was denied by a combination of Heyburn and Jamie Cullinane on the line. Peacehaven were still causing some problems however and the lively Rees turned sharply in the box but his shot was deflected into the side netting.
There had been a quiet start to the second half until it suddenly burst into life thanks to Wilson. He made a great run from inside his own half to force Peacehaven into conceding a corner which he took himself and found Piscina unmarked at the near post and his flick header comfortably beat the exposed Heyburn.
The contest struggled to catch fire after that. Peacehaven had most of the possession as they probed for an equaliser but with Grinstead superbly marshalled by Featherstone and captain Reece Head along with the endeavour of John Sinclair and the returning Drew Cooney in midfield they never looked like conceding. The visitors mustered a couple of half chances through substitute Roy Pook and a free kick from Lee Newman but Grinstead comfortably held out for a good three points and a winning start to a top-flight campaign for the first time since 2003.
