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First Team Match Reports 2003/04 Season

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:: East Grinstead Town 1, Ringmer 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS finished their first season back in the County League's top flight in a creditable ninth position despite suffering a third successive home defeat in their final game of the season on Saturday.

Injury-hit Grinstead got the boost of an early own goal, but Ringmer hit back to complete the double over Bob Smith's men with an 89th minute winner.
Wasps were without injured trio Matt Thorpe, Phil Thompson and Adam Dart and the suspended Dave Gellatly, but they made light of those problems to make a bright start.
With eight minutes played Ben Burns, who adapted well to a new role on the left-hand side of midfield, beat Grant Bean and his low cross was turned into his own net by Danny Bird.
Four minutes later Steve Banks cracked a volley against the post after good work by Lee Hanson and Kris Trevor, but Ringmer slowly worked their way back into the game.
Paul Stokes, sitting in front of their defence, began to dominate proceedings as Ringmer gave their hosts something of a lesson in keeping possession and probing for openings.
In contrast Wasps began to give the ball away too easily although Banks forced a fingertip save out of Jamie Anderson with an hour played.
Ringmer drew level a minute later when Stuart Garrod's shot cannoned off the underside of the bar and Scott Allison headed home the loose ball.
Wasps rallied and Kris Trevor fired weakly at the 'keeper after good work by Richard Houghton who came off the bench along with youngster Andrew Goodwin to make his first team debut in the second half.
But the visitors won the game following the best move of the match in the 89th minute. Dave Tidy's poor throw-out put Kevin Wright under pressure and Grinstead conceded a throw. Ringmer took it quickly, Garrod and Chris Johnson combined down the right and Johnson picked his spot from just outside the six yard box.

Grinstead: Tidy; Levett, Wright, Hanson, Cooney, Moore, Horner, Burns, Banks, Trevor, Dunstan. Subs (all used): Twinn, Houghton, Goodwin.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Rye & Iden United 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS were unable to prevent Rye from gaining the victory which keeps their hopes of claiming the County League title alive going into the final Saturday of the season.
But Bob Smith's men rediscovered their pride after their mauling by Arundel the previous week and were unlucky not to get something out of a competitive and enjoyable game in the East Court sunshine.
The only disappointment for Smith apart from the defeat was a second-half ankle injury to Phil Thompson. The midfielder fell awkwardly on the rock-hard pitch and it was feared at first that he had broken his leg. But hospital checks revealed no fracture, but he has suffered ligament damage although the extent of the injury won't be known for a few days.
Smith said: "Fortunately Phil hasn't broken his ankle which was our first fear. It depends on how bad the ankle is, but hopefully he will be back in time for pre-season training."

Kris Trevor scored his 18th goal of the season and is now only one behind Steve Banks in the race to finish top scorer with one game to go at home to Ringmer on Saturday (3pm).
But Smith couldn't believe that his side only had one goal to show for their efforts in a match with plenty of chances at both ends.
"Against a very good side I thought we deserved to get something out of the game," said Smith. "We created lots of chances and overall I was pleased with our performance bearing in mind how poor we had been against Arundel the week before."

Rye knew nothing less than victory would keep their hopes of overhauling Chichester at the top of the table alive, but it was Wasps who made the early running.
Lee Hanson squandered a great chance after ten minutes when James Horner's pass found him unmarked six yards out, but Hanson mis-hit his shot.
It was to prove an expensive miss. Five minutes later former Brighton player Simon Fox rattled the post from close range and defender Phil Rhodes reacted quickest to turn the loose ball past Dave Tidy.
The setback only seemed to galvanise Grinstead and Rye 'keeper Scott Gardner denied Trevor when he blocked his shot with his legs, but Wasps did draw level on 28 minutes.
Dave Gellatly's pass down the left was perfectly weighted for Trevor to run clear of the defence and fire a low shot into the far corner from the corner of the penalty area.
Grinstead might have taken the lead when Steve Banks fired wide after Kevin Wright headed the ball into his path, but instead Rye went upfield and regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Fox netted from close range after Peter Baker's low cross from the left.
Smith remonstrated with the referee as the players left the pitch at half-time after Sean Ray's push on Nick Levett had gone unpunished and there were occasions in the first half when tempers threatened to boil over.
But both sides concentrated on their football in the second half and it was Wasps who created the better openings. On 58 minutes Gardner saved with his legs again, this time from Steve Banks, and Hanson could only direct the rebound wide of the post with his head.
Horner went close after cutting in from the left and firing just past the far post while at the other end Tidy made a solid save after Ray let fly from the edge of the box.
The visitors, who'd had a tough game in midweek, tired in the closing stages in the 70degrees heat, but they just about did enough to complete a double over Grinstead.

There will be no Matt Thorpe in the squad to face Ringmer either on Saturday after he broke his hand in the defeat against Rye while Drew Cooney, who came off with a knee injury in the second half, is doubtful.

Grinstead: Tidy; Levett, Wright, Moore, Cooney (sub: Dunstan 62); Thompson, Gellatly, Hanson, Horner (sub: Twinn 75), Trevor, Banks. Unused sub: Burns.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Arundel 4 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS suffered their heaviest league defeat of the season at East Court on Saturday as the effects of a long season finally took their toll.
Bob Smith's men have struggled for form since winning the RUR Cup a month ago and they will need to win their last two games, which are both at home, if they are to achieve a top-six finish in their first season back in the County League's top flight.

Arundel gained ample revenge for the 5-3 home defeat they suffered against Grinstead in January even though their 47-goal top scorer Miles Scerri was absent through injury.
Not too many Grinstead players enhanced their reputations. Goalkeeper Dave Tidy's decision-making was unusually suspect while the performance of some of the outfield players on a hard, bumpy pitch lent weight to Smith's theory that his side play their besst football when there is some cut in the ground.
Yet it was fairly even-steven for the first 40 minutes. Ben Burns, preferred to top scorer Steve Banks after his goal against Redhill on Monday, saw a couple of shots drift just wide and Kris Trevor wasn't far away with a header from Nick Levitt's cross.
But it was Arundel who broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time. Andy Boxall beat Drew Cooney on the right and his cross was poked home at the far post by Garry Norgate.
To make matters worse, Cooney twisted his knee and had to be replaced seven minutes into the second half. By then Arundel had doubled their lead when Boxall had time to pick his spot after Grinstead had failed to clear a free-kick.
Matt Thorpe had a chance to pull one back when he beat the offside trap only to drag his shot tamely wide, but eight minutes later it was 3-0 when Boxall got an easy second after an embarassing lack of communication between Tidy and Kevin Wright whose header back failed to find the keeper.
Tidy was at fault on 72 minutes when he dropped a cross at the feet of Barry Pidgeon who had a simple task of making it 4-0.
Thorpe did get a consolation in the last minute after unselfish work by Trevor. It was the midfielder's first goal of an injury ravaged season, but gave little comfort to his manager.

"Arundel worked very hard and they clearly wanted to get revenge for what happened when we played them down there," said Smith.
"Dave Tidy had a poor game by his standards and we just lacked sparkle all over the pitch, although until they scored it had been a fairly even game.
"We've had a fantastic season, but performances like Saturday's also show that there are areas of the team which I will be looking to improve during the summer if we want to keep progressing."

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Levitt, Hanson (sub: Horner 67), Cooney (sub: Wright 52), Moore, Thorpe, Gellatly, Burns (sub: Banks 70), Trevor, Thompson.

:: Eastbourne Town 0, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS are back on course for a top-six finish in their first season back in Division One of the County League after ending Eastbourne's title challenge at the Saffrons on Saturday.
Not even a second successive red card for skipper Dave Gellatly could take the gloss off an excellent performance by Bob Smith's men who won the match courtesy of Kris Trevor's injury time goal, his 16th of the season.
Trevor produced a superb finish to round off Grinstead's best move of the match. Luke Dunstan found substitute Andy Twinn down the right, Twinn picked out Matt Thorpe who then teed up Trevor.
This was Grinstead's first win in 11 games against sides in the top seven and enabled them to move above Three Bridges into fifth place with five games to go, four of which are at East Court.
The only disappointment was the dismissal of Gellatly who faces a lengthy ban at the start of the new season.
Red-carded in last Tuesday's 2-1 defeat by Bridges after fighting with Scott Langridge, he was sent off for two bookable offences.
Gellatly was fortunate not to be shown a straight red after raising his hands to an opponent in the first half, but even Eastbourne manager Dave Winterton, who tried to sign Gellatly earlier in the season, had some sympathy for the Grinstead player after he caught Carl Harris with a mis-timed challenge 14 minutes from time.
"There was nothing malicious, he just caught Carl after the ball had gone," said Winterton.
Smith was disappointed with the performance of the officials. "I've got no complaints about Dave's first yellow card, but the second was very harsh. He went to block the guy's pass and caught him."

Gellatly had a new midfield partner in the absence of Lee Hanson and Thorpe got Smith's man of the match vote in his first game of a season ruined by an ankle operation which kept him out of action until last March.
"It was great to see Matt back and playing as well as we know he can," said Smith. "He was superb and probably our best player and it was fitting perhaps that he had a hand in our goal."

Although Grinstead had to soak up pressure for long spells of the game, goalkeeper Lee Whibley was well protected by his defenders, notably Steve Moore and the ever improving Drew Cooney.
They were helped by Eastbourne's top goalscorer Yemi Odubade, who forced Whibley to make his only save of note in the first half, went off with an ankle injury.
"We battled really well," added Smith, "A draw would have been a fair result but it's nice to beat one of the top sides at last. It shows the progress we have made this season."

Grinstead: Whibley; Dunstan, Wright, Moore, Cooney; Horner (sub: Twinn 69), Thorpe, Gellatly, Dart; Banks, Trevor. Unused subs: Burns, Benton.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Three Bridges 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
DAVE Gellatly was sent off in injury time as Wasps lost an ill-tempered league game to Three Bridges 2-1 at East Court last Tuesday.
Bridges gained some revenge for the 4-0 hammering they suffered a week earlier in the RUR Cup final thanks to goals from Richard Carter (9 mins) and Russell Mortimer (66).
James Horner got an 89th minute goal back for Wasps who squandered two good chances in the second half when Adam Dart directed a free header wide and substitute Ben Burns was denied by goalkeeper Alan Mansfield when through in a one-on-one.
The game boiled over when Gellatly reacted to a bad challenge by Bridges' Scott Langridge which left Phil Thompson with a badly bruised eye. Langridge was also sent off.

:: Whitehawk 2, East Grinstead Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Kris Trevor got his third in three games and 15th of the season to open the scoring on 17 minutes, beating goalkeeper Tom Rand from close range after Adam Dart had set up the chance.
Nine minutes later skipper Dave Gellatly robbed Stuart Corlett before firing a cross-shot past Rand for his 14th goal of the campaign. It was a great way to end the week for Wasps' cup final hat-trick hero.
And it was 3-0 on the half-hour, Phil Thompson capitalising on another Corlett slip to score his first goal since December 20.
With Dave Tidy recovering from the calf strain which ended his participation in the cup final after 15 minutes, Lee Whibley stepped up from the reserves for his first top team start, but he had no chance when Simon Rowland headed Hawks back into the contest on 36 minutes.
But Cooney and Steve Moore were outstanding in the second half as Grinstead defended well although Tom Smith did make it 3-2 to set up a tense last 14 minutes.

Wasps held on and their deserved win, coupled with results elsewhere, lifted them into fifth place in the table ahead of Saturday's tough-looking trip to third-placed Eastbourne Town (2pm).

Grinstead: Whibley; Dunstan, Wright, Hanson, Cooney, Moore, Thompson, Gellatly, Banks (sub: Burns 45), Trevor, Dart (sub: Horner 73). Unused sub: Hearn.

:: East Grinstead Town 4, Three Bridges 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Gellatly gave his side the perfect start on four minutes when he hammered a right-foot shot past Alan Mansfield from the edge of the box after Kris Trevor's pace had set up the chance down the left.
Andy Alexander had what turned out to be Bridges' best chance on 14 minutes but he fired wide from eight yards after he was left unmarked at a corner.
Seven minutes later Grinstead goalkeeper Dave Tidy had to come off with a calf strain and was replaced by Lee Whibley who was tasting first team action for the first time.
But such was the quality of Grinstead's defending, Whibley was barely troubled all night and at the start of the second half Grinstead took control with some superb attacking football.
Kris Trevor was denied by Mansfield after racing clear of the offside trap and then the striker missed from three yards in front of an open goal after Adam Dart's cross bobbled horribly in front of him.
But Trevor made no mistake with a free header from Dart's cross a few moments later and Wasps and their supporters were in dreamland.
As Bridges' frustration intensfied so their discipline went.
Striker Pat Massaro was sent off after 72 minutes for stamping on Dart's ankle in front of referee Darren Eaton, and two minutes later it was 3-0 when Gellatly hammered home from the spot after a foul on Nick Levitt.
Wasps could have added further goals in the closing stages and Bridges' misery was compounded when Damian Webber was sent off for a second bookable offence, a heavy challenge from behind from Phil Thompson.
Moments later, after substitute Ben Burns had been fouled, Gellatly had the chance to complete his hat-trick and once again he gave Mansfield no chance.
Grinstead's long wait was over and the celebrations, which continued long into the night, could begin.

Grinstead: Tidy (sub: Whibley 21), Levitt (Dunstan 85), Wright, Hanson, Cooney, Moore, Thompson, Gellatly, Banks (Burns 75), Trevor, Dart. Subs not used: Hearne, Horner.

:: Pagham 0, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
NICK Levitt celebrated his Wasps' debut with a goal as Bob Smith's men gave themselves a timely confidence boost at windswept Pagham on Saturday.
Successive away defeats in County League Division One had punctured Grinstead's euphoria ahead of this week's RUR Cup final.
But three days before their showdown with Three Bridges, Wasps completed the double over Pagham to move back up to seventh place in the table.
And it was a red-letter day for Levitt who did all he could to force his way into the cup final team after capping a solid performance at rightback with Grinstead's 62nd minute opener.
As the home defence backed off, Levitt let fly from 15 yards and beat keeper Wes Hallett with a shot which took a slight deflection off defender Matt Beard.
The goal was no more than Grinstead deserved. Playing with a gale-force wind at their backs, they had controlled the first half against a hardworking but punchless Pagham team without creating too many clear-cut chances.
Their best opportunity came three minutes before the break when Lee Hanson headed Phil Thompson's right-wing cross a yard wide of the left-hand upright. Hallett had earlier denied Kris Trevor at full stretch.
Playing against the elements in the second half seemed to suit Grinstead. It encouraged them to keep the ball on the deck and they soon began to find holes in Pagham's defence and carve out chances.
Steve Banks was inches away from connecting with Adam Dart's low cross on 48 minutes and Wasps' top scorer went even closer six minutes later, heading wide from Dave Gellatly's cross.
Banks should have buried that chance and must have felt it wasn't going to be his day when thundered a low shot against the post on five mintes after Levitt's opener.
But Banks duly scored his 18th of the season to make the game safe after 75 minutes. Hallett blocked Trevor's shot with his legs but Banks volleyed the rebound into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area, his 18th goal of the season.


Smith, with one eye on the final, ran his bench in the closing stages although the closing stages might have been more fraught had the referee not ignored strong Pagham penalty claims when Lee Stevens fell under Drew Cooney's challenge.
Cooney and Steve Moore had impressive games in the heart of the defence while it was significant that Banks, operating in a slightly withdrawn role, had more opportunities in one game than he had in the previous three or four.
"We changed things around slightly and it worked well," said Smith.
"Steve had some great chances but he took the hardest one of all and the goal will have done his confidence a power of good.
"After a couple of poor performances it was a boost to the side to win and win well. Regardless of what happens in the cup final we really want to finish in the top six and that means winning games like this."

Grinstead: Tidy; Levitt, Wright, Hanson, Cooney, Moore (sub: Hearn 76), Thompson (sub: Dunstan 66), Gellatly, Banks (sub: Burns 77), Trevor, Dart.

:: Chichester United 3, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Chichester's direct approach always looked more threatening.
Neil Murfin gave them a 38th minute lead with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Grinstead's defensive falibility at set-pieces was again exposed when Steve Lee made it 2-0 with a header from a free-kick three minutes from time.
And, as the visitors pushed forward in search of a consolation, Scott Murfin beat the offside trap to score a third for Chichester in injury time.

"We didn't play that badly, but the service to the front two was poor which is a bit of a worry," he said.
"We had a chat about things afterwards which helped and I will be looking for a positive reaction on Saturday."

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Dart, Moore, Hearn; Thompson (sub: Lynn 77), Hanson, Gellatly, Wright; Banks, Trevor. Unused subs: Turville, Twinn.

:: Southwick 2, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Grinstead seemed to have cured their falibility at set-pieces, but it was two goals from corners which undid them on Saturday.
"We defended well in open play, but got done at two corners which is disappointing," added Smith.
"We created five or six good chances, but we didn't pass the ball well enough and didn't support each other well enough when we had possession."

Southwick, who had stuck six past Chichester in their previous home game, benefitted from Grinstead's benevolence after just seven minutes when centre-half Liam O'Brien rose unchallenged to head in Lawrence Edwards' corner.

Phil Thompson, Dave Gellatly and Lee Hanson all had sights of goal in the first half, but none were able to test goalkeeper Adam Launden and the unmarked Terry Streeter missed a great chance at the other end when he volleyed wide from six yards.
But Southwick duly doubled their lead on 53 minutes when Streeter got an unchallenged header onto another Edwards' corner, this time from the left, to give Tidy no chance.

Smith threw on all three substitutes and in the last 20 minutes his side belatedly found some form, but Launden was only seriously tested when he turned James Horner's header over the bar at full stretch.

Smith plans to give Horner, Ben Burns and Luke Dunstan, who missed Saturday's game, a run out in the reserves this week as he evalutes his options for the matches to come.

Grinstead: Tidy; Hearn (sub: Horner 65), Wright (sub: Burns 80), Hanson, Cooney, Moore, Thompson, Gellatly, Banks, Trevor, Dart (sub: Stratton 73).

:: East Grinstead Town 2, Sidley United 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
The 24th minute dismissal of Sidley midfielder Adam Day changed the course of a game which until then the visitors were controlling.

Day got a straight red from referee Adrian Taylor for swearing at an assistant who kept his flag down after Lee Hanson had cleared Kevin Rose's header off the line at full stretch.
Rose and Matt Dadswell had already tested keeper Dave Tidy, but Sidley lost momentum and within five minutes of Day's dismissal they found themselves 1-0 down.
Kris Trevor and Hanson combined to set up Dart and his side-foot finish from the edge of the box gave Rob Wiley no chance. It was the youngster's fourth goal of the season and second in successive games.

The goal settled Grinstead down and Luke Dunstan squandered a glorious chance to make it 2-0 on 36 minutes when he missed the target from six yards after Trevor unseflishly set him up following a strong surge into the box.
But Trevor's industry got its reward seven minutes after half-time. Dart was the provider with a left-wing cross which Trevor headed home at the far post.
A rare mistake by defender Drew Cooney gave Tate a presentable opportunity to pull a goal back, but he dragged his shot wide and Tidy made a great one-handed save from Craig Ottley's 85th minute header.
But Wasps played well within themselves and ran out comfortable winners.

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Wright, Cooney, Moore (sub: Lynn 75); Thompson, Hearn (sub: Simpson 82), Hanson, Dart; Banks, Trevor.

:: East Grinstead Town 2, Selsey 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Smith was able to welcome back skipper Dave Gellatly, who missed last week's defeat by Rye & Iden due to injury, and he had another influential afternoon in midfield.
Gellatly should have scored after seven minutes, but mis-kicked six yards out after a sweeping Grinstead move. Hill had already denied Trevor when he raced onto James Horner's pass and tried to round the goalkeeper and Wasps duly made their early pressure tell with a 17th-minute opener. Banks had two stabs at converting Gellatly's cross and when Hill parried his second effort Dart had a tap-in for his third goal of the season.

Hill saved from Trevor when he delayed his shot eight minutes later, but Wasps were 2-0 in front on 33 minutes when Trevor had time and space on the left to pick out Banks at the far post and his powerful header gave Hill no chance for his 18th goal of the campaign.

Selsey enjoyed their best spell either side of half-time. Nicky Wyatt, the former Bognor forward, squandered a good chance on 41 minutes when he blazed over from six yards but Wyatt turned provider to give Selsey hope 12 minutes into the second half when his cross was turned in by Alan Morey at the far post.
But the concession of that goal only served to strengthen Grinstead's resolve and they dominated the last quarter o the game, missing chances to kill off their visitors. Hill twice saved at Trevor's feet when he only had the goalkeeper to beat and when Trevor unselfishly squared the ball to Banks, Wasps' top scorer hit the post from close range.
Then in the last minute Trevor set up Gellatly whose shot was rolling towards an open goal when John Oliver popped up from nowhere to scoop it off the line.

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Wright, Moore, Cooney; Horner (sub: Hearn 80), Thompson, Gellatly, Dart (sub: Lynn 75); Trevor, Banks (sub: Simpson 88).

:: Rye & Iden Utd 2, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS were brought back down to earth on Saturday and they could have few complaints about the 2-0 defeat by a Rye & Iden side who look capable of mounting a late challenge for the County League title.

Skipper Dave Gellatly missed his first match of the season after suffering a dead leg against Oakwood and his combative presence was badly missed in midfield, especially when Rye's Duncan McArthur was launching himself into some tasty challenges which eventually earned him a booking.

Adam Dart started well down the left, but gradually Rye cut off the supply lines to Steve Banks and Kris Trevor and Wasps struggled to create anything of note in the first half.

Dave Tidy made good saves from McArthur and Shaun Loft but he was beaten on 33 minutes when Kevin Wright cleared a cross straight to Mick O'Callaghan and although Tidy saved his first shot he could do nothing to prevent O'Callaghan from tucking away the rebound.

Rye bossed the second period for long spells as Wasps struggled to make any headway and O'Callaghan settled to destination of the three points on 73 minutes with a superb shot from the edge of the box which flew past a helpless Tidy into the top corner.

Not even the introduction of Ben Burns could pep Wasps' attack and Rye goalkeeper Jon Gardner must have had one of his easiest afternoons of the season as the visitors' hectic schedule in recent weeks finally caught up with them.

Manager Bob Smith said: "The better side won, there's no doubt about that. We were a bit flat after the semi-final and looked jaded, but they are a good side with a lot of experienced players and it was always going to be tough."

Grinstead: Tidy, Hearn (sub: Dunstan 78), Wright, Thompson, Cooney, Moore, Horner, Hanson, Banks, Trevor (sub: Burns 64), Dart.

:: Oakwood 0, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
On an eventful night at Redhill, Grinstead got the perfect start with a goal after 57 seconds. Banks played Trevor into space down the left and he raced into the box and chipped Oaks' goalkeeper Neil Burling, the ball going in off the far post despite Ben King's desperate attempt to clear.

Oakwood found Grinstead's defence and goalkeeper Dave Tidy in top form when they ventured forward although there was a scare for Wasps midway through the second half when James Grant smashed a 25 yard drive against the bar.
As Oakwood committed more men forward they were left susceptible to a counter-attack and when Adam Dart was fouled with eight minutes left Wasps took their chance.
Dart's free-kick from wide on the left was met by Banks whose towering header back across goal gave Burling no chance for his 17th goal of the season.
Oakwood striker Gerry Manville's frustrations boiled over in the last minute when he was sent off for head-butting Drew Cooney in front of the dugouts.

Grinstead: Tidy; Hearn, Wright, Thompson, Cooney, Moore, Horner (sub: Dunstan 85), Gellatly (sub: Hanson 61), Banks, Trevor, Dart. Unused subs: Whibley (gk), Burns, Simpson.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Three Bridges 3 - on Penalties :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Smith preferred to look on the positive side after watching his team lose 3-1 on penalties against Three Bridges after the match had finished 0-0 after extra time last Tuesday.

He said: "It shows how far we have come in the last couple of months that we can hold a side who are genuine contenders for the title.
"Penalties isn't a nice way to go out, but I'm proud of the effort the players showed. There weren't many chances at either end which is a tribute to the defending from both teams. I thought Steve Moore and Drew Cooney were outstanding at the back for us."

Goalkeeper Alan Mansfield was Bridges hero, saving spot-kicks from substitute Scott Woolley, Cooney and Ben Burns while Damian Webber, Pat Massaro and Simon Funnell all scored for the visitors. Gellatly was Wasps only successful penalty-taker.

Mansfield made the best save in normal time to deny Steve Banks in the first half while Banks scooped a close range effort over the bar with seven minutes left after a free-kick had ricocheted into his path.

Consolation for Grinstead was a season's best home crowd of 238. And there was no repeat of the ugly scenes which marred their first meeting when Cooney and Bridges' Dave Martin were sent off.

Grinstead: Tidy, Hearn, Wright, Thompson, Cooney, Moore, Horner (sub: Twinn 76), Gellatly, Banks (sub: Woolley 117), Simpson (sub: Burns 65), Dart. Unused subs: Whibley.

:: Shoreham 1, East Grinstead Town 5 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Grinstead's biggest away win in Division One since 1968 was never really in doubt after defender Drew Cooney had scored his third goal in a week on 17 minutes. It was a replica of the previous two as he met a corner from Phil Thompson with a thumping close range header.
Banks then took centre stage to end the match as a contest. He met Lee Hanson's right wing cross with a powerful header on 34 minutes which gave Shoreham goalkeeper Lee Aylward no chance before adding a simple third three minutes later. Trevor was fortunate when his cross rebounded into his path and he was able to tee up Banks for a tap-in.
Simpson squandered a great chance moments later when he shot wide when clean through with Trevor unmarked and screaming for a pass, but Wasps duly got their fourth on 42 minutes with Banks again using his head to good effect as he converted a cross from Kevin Wright to take his tally for the season to 16.

The second-half was a non-event. Smith used all three subs and one of them, James Horner, made it 5-0 on 77 minutes when his shot from the edge of the box took a deflection past Aylward.
Warwick MacClaymont headed Shoreham's consolation from close range with two minutes left.

Grinstead: Tidy, Dunstan (sub: Hearn 73), Wright (sub: Dart 72), Hanson, Cooney, Moore, Thompson, Gellatly (sub: Horner 66), Banks, Trevor, Simpson.

:: Three Bridges 2, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS stretched their unbeaten run to seven games after skipper Dave Gellatly kept their Senior Cup hopes alive with a 90th minute equaliser in last night's (Tuesday) third round tie at the Jubilee Field.

Gellatly took the tie into extra time when he met Phil Thompson's corner with a thumping close range header.
But a competitive tussle boiled over six minutes from the end of extra time when Drew Cooney and Bridges' Dave Martin were sent off after an off-the-ball flare-up.


Three Bridges defend

Cooney had put Wasps ahead on the stroke of half-time with a header from another Thompson corner, but Bridges took control at the start of the second half when Danny Smith equalised on 56 minutes after Dave Tidy could only parry Simon Funnell's free-kick into his path.


Funnell put Bridges ahead on 67 minutes with a well-executed chip which dropped just inside the far post, but Wasps rallied in the last ten minutes to force extra time.


Grinstead get ready for extra time

They then looked more likely to win the tie with Thompson firing wide with only goalkeeper Alan Mansfield to beat.

Grinstead: Tidy, Dunstan, Wright (sub: Wright 71, Hanson (sub: Hearn 85), Cooney, Moore, Thompson, Gellatly, Simpson, Banks, Dart. Unused subs: Whibley, Smith.

The replay is next Tuesday (27th) at East Court, kick off 7.15pm.

:: Arundel 3, East Grinstead Town 5 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Wasps are flying at the moment and Trevor gave them the perfect start with a goal inside the opening minute. Arundel's defence gave him too much space to collect Gellatly's angled pass and ghost past Rob Grove before firing into the far corner from 10 yards.
Trevor's second came on 13 minutes. Gellatly's pass found Adam Simpson whose neat lay-off teed up Trevor for another classy finish from 15 yards. Only a goalline clearance by Stuart Hack prevented Hanson from converting Trevor's cross but Grinstead didn't have long to wait before making it 3-0 after 27 minutes when Cooney got above his marker to send a looping header from Phil Thompson's left-wing corner past a helpless Danny Bryant in the home goal.

Bryant made a fine save when Kevin Wright let fly from 25 yards, but the home side gave themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Tidy, his feet seemingly stuck in a muddy Grinstead goalmouth, failed to claim a long punt forward and Hack prodded the loose ball over the line.
It was an uncharacteristic error by Tidy, but he made amends in the second half with two outstanding saves, plunging low to his left to keep out Jason Wimbleton's drive before bravely blocking Miles Scerri's close range blast.

Arundel piled forward in search of the goal which might have got them back into the game, but they left gaps at the back which Wasps always looked like exploiting on the counter-attack. Bryant saved at Trevor's feet and Wright rattled the bar from Thompson's cross with a header before Wasps got their fourth on 64 minutes when Trevor's pace left Barry Pidgeon for dead and his cutback was converted by Hanson, one of three unmarked Grinstead players queueing up at the far post to score.

In the last 15 minutes Rob Grove and then Jon Tucker twice exposed poor marking at corners by Wasps, but they were mere consolations for the hosts whose fate had been sealed by the goal of the game in the 82nd minute when Dunstan galloped forward from rightback and hit a cracking drive from 25 yards which went in off the far post past a startled Bryant.

Grinstead's sizeable contingent of supporters can't quite believe what they are seeing at the moment from their side. Long may it continue.

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Wright (sub: Turville 85), Moore, Cooney; Thompson, Hanson, Gellatly, Dart (sub: Horner 62); Trevor, Banks (sub: Simpson 68).

:: Hailsham Town 1, East Grinstead Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
The home side's policy of getting the ball forward quickly and turning Grinstead's defenders earned them a 21st minute lead when Nick Barden's shot from the edge of the box flew into the bottom corner with Tidy wrong-footed.
Tidy made superb saves to deny Scott and Mark French - who also blazed over when clean through - and on the stroke of half-time he deflected Simon Tadman's close range effort to safety. Tidy's tip-over at full stretch from Mark French on 47 minutes turned out to be the turning point as Grinstead were level within three minutes.
Gellalty found Trevor after a powerful run from midfield and the striker rounded keeper Russell Tanner after a diagonal run before firing home from eight yards to register his ninth Grinstead goal of the season.
With a gusting wind behind them Wasps began to take control and Trevor was involved again when they went in front after 70 minutes. He exchanged passes with Dart who continued his run into the box before beating Tanner with a powerful strike on the angle which deflected in through the goalkeeper's legs.
Hailsham were a spent force and with seven minutes left Gellatly capped another impressive display when he met Phil Thompson's corner with a powerful header which went in via the underside of the bar.

Grinstead: Tidy, Dunstan (sub: Stratton 86), Dart, Hanson, Cooney, Moore, Thompson, Gellatly, Simpson (sub: Banks 62), Horner (sub: Trevor 45), Wright. Unused sub: Lynn.

:: Horsham YMCA 2, East Grinstead Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
For the third game running Grinstead made the ideal start when they went in front after four minutes. Phil Thompson's low, driven cross from the right ricocheted off a YM defender into the path of Simpson who buried a low shot into the bottom corner from 15 yards.
YM pushed players forward at every opportunity in search of an equaliser but Wasps were content to soak up pressure and threaten on the counter-attack. They nearly doubled their lead on 18 minutes when Dave Gellatly headed against the bar from Thompson's far-post cross.
At the other end Dave Tidy showed good reflexes to deny Ryan Andrews and Joel O'Hara, but Wasps continued to look dangerous on the break and they doubled their lead in the 35th minute when Dunstan's pass found James Horner who stepped inside his marker before firing hard and low past the helpless James Plumley from 15 yards.
YM pulled one back within three minutes when Steve Davis was allowed too much time on the edge of the box before giving Tidy no chance from 18 yards with a low drive.
It was no more than the home side deserved on the balance of play and although there was a more subdued start to the second half YM were only denied a 66th minute equaliser by Tidy who showed outstanding reflexes to deflect O'Hara's thunderbolt over the bar.
It looked as if Grinstead might have their work cut out holding onto their lead, but they established a two-goal cushion again in the 69th minute. Gellatly's header forward should have been dealt with by Plumley, but he completely missed his clearance on the edge of the penalty area and the alert Simpson had the simple task of side-footing the ball into an empty net.
The hosts must have sensed it wasn't going to be their day but they kept coming forward and Phil Churchill made it a nervy last three minutes for the sizeable contingent of Grinstead supporters when he shrugged off Steve Moore and Lee Hanson to pick his spot from 12 yards.
YM captain Matt Duffield, whose midfield battle with Gellatly provided an entertaining sideshow to the main event, had the chance to rescue a point in injury time but his free-kick from the edge of the box sailed harmlessly wide.
Youth teamer James Upton, son of former Grinstead player Cliff, made his first team debut for the last ten minutes.

Manager Smith was delighted with his side's hardworking display. He said: "To be fair we rode our luck, but we took our chances. We've got pace in the side which worries every team and when we went forward we were a threat.
"Defensively we were solid enough, their second goal came when Steve Moore was receiving treatment and we were down to ten men. It's another win and gives us a springboard to hopefully push on and finish even higher."

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Stares (sub: Stratton 58), Moore, Dart; Thompson, Hanson, Gellatly, Wright; Horner (sub: Banks 68), Simpson (sub: Upton 83).

:: Reshill 1, East Grinstead Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Wasps got the perfect start at Redhill by scoring with less than two minutes on the clock. Lee Hanson spread the play from left to right and Phil Thompson's far post cross was headed home by Dave Gellatly, the captain's fifth goal in his last seven matches.

It was 2-0 on 16 minutes when Redhill's defence stood off James Horner some 20 yards out and allowed him to beat former Grinstead keeper Scott Kenward with a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner. Six minutes later with the home side in disarray and Kenward stranded on the edge of his box, Adam Simpson collected Hanson's pass and delicately lobbed the ball into the far corner to make it 3-0.

Redhill may have been all over the place defensively, but they still posed problems when they attacked. Dave Tidy kept out Stephen Gillett's well-struck shot with an outstretched hand but he should have been beaten two minutes later when Lee Osbourn's thudded a free header from inside the six yard box against the post.

The hosts had the elements behind them in the second half and for 15 minutes Grinstead struggled to get out of their own half. Their passing was poor, they kept giving the ball away and David Graves was being allowed far too much space to get good crosses in from the right.

Dean duly pulled a goal back eight minutes after the re-start, volleying home from close range after Tidy had spilled Gillett's shot and three minutes later Osbourn screwed his shot wide from 12 yards.

Grinstead gradually weathered the storm with youth teamer Michael Turville, who was making his full debut, impressing with some well-timed challenges at right back. In the last 15 minutes Wasps were a threat on the counter-attack, notably when Kevin Wright released Ben Burns who was denied by Kenward on his first appearance since returning to East Court from Three Bridges.

Grinstead: Tidy, Turville (sub: Woolley 75), Dart, Hanson, Cooney, Moore, Thompson, Gellatly, Simpson (sub: Twinn 83), Horner (sub: Burns 78), Wright.

:: East Grinstead Town 5, Hailsham 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Grinstead made a blistering start and were 2-0 ahead after 11 minutes.
Banks opened the scoring on eight minutes, finishing from close range after Dave Gellatly had fired the ball across the face of goal following a quickly taken free-kick.
Three minutes later Dart's 25 yard thunderbolt with his right foot crashed back off the bar and Phil Thompson coolly slotted home the loose ball.

It all looked too easy for Wasps, but Hailsham gradually came more into the game although Banks and Adam Simpson wasted good chances to extend their side's lead.

Hailsham were back in it on 42 minutes when Scott French was brought down in the box as he tried to round goalkeeper Dave Tidy and Nick Barden converted from the penalty spot.
But Tidy made amends just after half-time when he brilliantly parried Simon Tadman's effort having just blocked a shot from the same player moments earlier.

It proved to be the turning point. Grinstead extended their lead after 55 minutes when Dart somehow wrapped his foot around a pass from Gellatly which appeared to be going out of play and Banks rose to send a powerful back-post header past Ross Standen.

The hardworking Simpson made it 4-1 on 68 minutes with a powerful low drive from 20 yards which left Standen motionless and the rout was completed with 15 minutes to go when Gellatly let fly from 25 yards, again giving Standen no chance.

Grinstead: Tidy, Cooney (sub: Turville 76), Dart, Hanson, Stares, Moore, Thompson (sub: Horner 70), Gellatly, Banks, Simpson, Wright (Twinn 70).

:: East Grinstead Town 3, Sidlesham 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Wasps looked the more dangerous side in the first half on Saturday, but they had to wait until the 48th minute before going in front when Phil Thompson's inswinging corner from the right flew past a startled Kearns and inside the far post.

It was just the confidence boost Wasps needed and either side of the double sending-off, Adam Simpson and Thompson squandered good opportunites to increase the lead.
But the second goal settled any nerves and Banks made it 3-0 with three minutes remaining, heading powerfully home from substitute James Horner's free kick.

Adam Dart's poor back pass led to an injury time consolation for Scott Tipper and spoiled an otherwise solid display by the young fullback.

Now Smith wants his side to build on this performance by getting good results in their holiday fixtures.

"We've climbed two places, but the league is so tight and we need to keep producing good performances if we are to put some daylight between ourselves and the bottom three.
"Hailsham have picked up in recent weeks so that will be another hard game, but the boys are quite confident at the moment."

Grinstead: Tidy, Stratton, Dart, Hanson, Stares (sub: Cooney 72), Moore, Thompson, Gellatly, Banks (sub: Twinn 88), Simpson (sub: Horner 72), Wright.

:: East Grinstead Town 0, East Preston 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS gave as good as they got for an hour against Championship contenders East Preston on Saturday before the visitors completed the double over Bob Smith's men with three goals in the last 28 minutes.

It ended a run of three successive wins for Grinstead, but Smith was still encouraged by his side's performance.
Grinstead had created the better chances in a tightly-fought encounter and the turning point came after 48 minutes when they missed a great chance to break the deadlock.
Steve Banks' cross found Adam Simpson unmarked in the six yard box, but he completely missed his kick in front of an open goal and Andrew Twinn following in shot wide.

"That was the turning point," admitted Smith. "Up until then we had coped well with a very good side and we were looking quite solid.
"But once they had scored our heads went down a bit, we seemed to think we weren't going to get back into the game. The result flattered them a bit, but they deserved to win and they are a good side, particularly up front.
"We had a couple of good penalty claims turned down as well."

Wasps let their guard drop in the 62nd minute and were punished. A long ball forward exposed a slightly square defence and Chris Hibberd, who was outstanding in EP's midfield, applied the decisive touch in the six yard box.
Grinstead were now chasing the game and that suited EP's speedy front three.
Twinn sent an overhead kick from Phil Thompson's cross wide after 71 minutes, but a minute later goalkeeper Dave Tidy's hesitation in coming to claim a long ball allowed Lee Farrell to nip in and make it 2-0.
Matt Huckett was left unmarked to add the third from Simon Clayton's pass on 84 minutes. By then Smith had introduced youth team defender Michael Turville for his first taste of action.

Wasps had created the better chances in the first half, but EP goalkeeper Andy McCarthy was only called into action to palm away Dave Gellatly's fierce shot on 31 minutes.

Grinstead: Tidy, Cooney, Wright, Hanson, Stratton (sub: Stratton 82), Stares, Twinn, Gellatly, Banks, Simpson (sub: Richardson 65), Thompson.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Horsham YMCA 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS recorded their second league win in three days after a hard-fought success on Tuesday at East Court, their first over YMCA for 11 years.

A tightly fought contest was settled in the 24th minute when YM defender Tim Brown, under pressure from Steve Banks, lobbed his own keeper James Plumley from the edge of the box.
Although the visitors had plenty of possession, home keeper Dave Tidy was well protected by a new look back four which included Sam Stratton making his home debut alongside Dave Stares.
Tidy only had to make one save of note when he blocked Paul Young's shot in the fifth minute.
Banks had already missed a free header from four yards while Plumley did well to keep out Phil Thompson's low drive on 36 minutes.
Young mis-kicked when well placed at the far post, but in the second half Plumley was the busier keeper with Banks, twice, and sub Andrew Twinn both testing him.
Late bookings for Stares and Banks were the only disappointment for a Grinstead side who relished the wet conditions as they worked hard to protect their lead.

Grinstead moved up a place to 15th, but they are now just four points behind eighth-placed Ringmer in a congested first division table.

Grinstead: Tidy, Cooney, Dart, Hanson (sub: Hearn 83), Stratton, Stares, Horner (sub: Twinn 45), Gellatly, Banks, Simpson (sub: Leatherdale 67), Thompson.

:: Sidley United 2, East Grinstead Town 4 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS made it three wins from their last four games with their first league success for nearly two months at the Gullivers on Saturday.

Bob Smith's men came from behind to win an entertaining County League Division One tussle with two goals in the second half.
Smith gave a debutant to new signing Scott Stratton, a centre-half signed from Combined Counties League outfit Godalming & Guildford, and although Stratton lacked match sharpness he could be pleased with his contribution.
Although Smith was disappointed that Grinstead conceded twice from set pieces, he was delighted with their work in the final third.

He said: "Going forward, it was one our best performances of the season. We looked a threat and there was a lot more invention about our play which pleased me.
"It was a very important three points, both in terms of keeping the teams at the bottom at arm's-length and for confidence. We've won three out of the last four and I think it's no coincidence that now the grounds are getting softer we've started to play better, we seem to prefer the heavier pitches."

Wasps had a scare just before half-time when James Horner went down after he was accidentally elbowed on the windpipe. An ambulance was called, but Horner recovered without the need for hospital treatment and watched the second half from the bench.

Smith made two changes to the team which had beaten Sidlesham in the Senior Cup with Stratton taking Grant Hearn's place in defence and Adam Simpson preferred to Andrew Twinn in attack. Simpson celebrated his recall with his first goal since September 2 as he produced arguably his best performance in his 12 months at the club.

Sidley, who had won their previous four games, went ahead in the 23rd minute. Leftback Mark Freeman fizzed a free-kick from the left-hand edge into the six yard box and Lee Wood got the decisive touch at the far post.
But Grinstead were level within three minutes. Steve Banks got behind the home defence and although Rob Wiley parried his fiercely struck shot, Phil Thompson guided the loose ball inside the far post for his first goal of the season.

Wasps' front two combined to give their side a 33rd-minute lead when Banks' cross found Simpson unmarked at the far post and his emphatic volley gave Wiley no chance.
But Sidley were level before the break when Kevin Rose gave Dave Tidy no chance with a powerful header from a corner with Grinstead's marking non-exsistent.

The next goal was always going to be crucial and Grinstead got it on 52 minutes. Dave Gellatly led a breakaway when he latched onto Adam Dart's pass and although Wiley parried his first shot into the air, Wasps' captain reacted quickly to nod in his fourth goal of the season.

It was 4-2 on 66 minutes after a terrible own goal by Wood who headed substitute Twinn's cross past his own keeper.

Neither side looked solid throughout and Tidy denied Wes Tate and Gellatly saw his shot cleared off the line as limbs tired on the heavy pitch and play switched from end to end.
By then Dave Stares had come on up front to replace Banks who came off with a sore calf on 66 minutes.

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Dart, Hanson (sub: Hearn 76), Stratton; Cooney, Thompson, Gellatly, Horner (sub: Twinn 44); Banks (sub: Stares 65), Simpson.

:: Sidlesham 0, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
LOCAL rivals Three Bridges await Grinstead in the last 16 of the Sussex Senior Cup after Wasps enjoyed a thoroughly deserved second round triumph over Sidlesham on Saturday.

Steve Banks scored his tenth goal of the season to put the visitors in control just before half-time and Dave Gellatly made the game safe in the last minute from the penalty spot after the impressive Banks had been fouled.
Just as importantly was a second clean sheet in three games, achieved without the influential Dave Stares who was unavailable because of family commitments.

Now boss Bob Smith will challenge his side to produce more of the same when they try to end a run of six straight defeats in Division One at Sidley United on Saturday (3pm).

He said: "It's a shame that the two wins we've had weren't for league points because staying up is our priority.
"But any sort of win is good for confidence. It's a long way to go down there and the game itself wasn't a classic, but we were always in control.
"Steve (Banks) was outstanding again and I thought Drew Cooney had a good game in defence."

Banks had already been denied on two occasions by Sidlesham goalkeeper Steve Judd before he broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute.
James Horner's excellent cross from the left was met by a full-blooded volley at the far post which gave Judd no chance and earned Banks his tenth goal of the season.

Judd was by far the busier keeper, also keeping out a powerful drive from Gellatly while, at the other end, Dave Tidy didn't have to make a save of note all afternoon.
That's not to say Sidlesham didn't have opportunities. Neil Durrant and Danny Towers were off-target with first half efforts while Towers clipped the side netting in the second half.
Their best chance came when Joe Leggatt intercepted a poor clearance by Tidy but shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

At the other end Horner hit the post after Banks had flicked on a cross from his fellow front-runner Andrew Twinn who worked tirelessly all afternoon.

Two youngsters, striker Jordan Leatherdale and Dan Sillitoe, came on for their debuts in the last ten minutes either side of Gellatly's clinching spot kick, awarded after Banks had been sent sprawling by a combination of Sean Towers and Keith Martin.

Grinstead: Tidy, Hearn (sub: Woolley 88), Cooney, Dunstan, Dart; Thompson, Hanson, Gellatly, Horner (sub: Leatherdale 80); Banks, Twinn (sub: Sillitoe 88).

:: Hassocks 3, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Grinstead looked solid enough in the early stages, but they fell behind after 19 minutes.
Pat Harding, who'd already had a well-struck shot turned around the post by Dave Tidy, was given too much time and space space to pick out Joe Fernley with a left-wing cross and Fernley was unmarked as he steered his shot past Tidy from close range.
Apart from a long range effort by Dart, Wasps didn't threaten the home goal in the first half.

Hassocks nearly added a second on 47 minutes when Tidy reacted quickly to block Harding's shot, but six minutes later he was beaten again when Fernley ghosted through a square-looking defence to slot home his second of the night.
Banks finally had his first sight of goal on 63 minutes but fired wide from Dave Gellatly's pass, but at least Grinstead were asking one or two questions of the home side.
They pulled one back on 69 minutes when Banks rose to head home Drew Cooney's right-wing cross at the far post.
Suddenly Wasps had a bit of momentum and Twinn went closest to equalising on 81 minutes when he raced onto a through ball from Gellatly and rounded keeper Joel Harding only to lose control of the ball with the goal gaping.
Stares headed wide from a corner two minutes later, but Hassocks made the game safe in injury time when Anthony Hibbert headed Graham Beveridge's cross past a helpless Tidy moments after Pat Harding had rattled the bar with a deflected shot.

Grinstead: Tidy; Hearn, Dart, Hanson (sub: Twinn 70), Woolley (sub: Stares 61), Raymond, Horner, Gellatly, Banks, Thompson, Cooney.

:: Redhill 0, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS returned to winning ways after three successive defeats to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Sussex RUR Cup after a hard-fought win at Kiln Brow on Tuesday night.

Skipper Dave Gellatly capped an impressive display by scoring the winner on 33 minutes when he beat former Grinstead keeper Scott Kenward with a low, angled drive after Drew Cooney flicked on Grant Hearn's deep free-kick.

Grinstead had to defend for long spells but Dave Stares made a big difference on his return after injury with his aerial prowess while Luke Dunstan was impressive at sweeper in the absence of Dave Garrett who is on crutches and out for a month after twisting his knee against East Preston on Saturday.

Dave Tidy's handling was solid in the slippery conditions and he made a good save from Jamie Sinclair who also headed wastefully wide during Redhill's best spell at the start of the second half.

Grinstead face Hailsham in the quarter-finals.

Grinstead: Tidy, Hearn, Dart, Dunstan, Stares, Hanson, Horner (sub: Thompson 75), Gellatly, Simpson (sub: Twinn 82), Banks, Cooney.

:: East Preston 2, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS are hovering uncomfortably close to the first division relegation zone after suffering their first ever defeat at East Preston on Saturday.

Grinstead got the perfect start with a second minute goal by Steve Banks, but in the end they could have no complaints about the outcome. Both sides were fairly evenly matched except in the final third where EP goalscorers Lee Farrell and Matt Huckett were a constant threat.

Boss Bob Smith said: "I thought we competed well but once again we gave away two soft goals and struggled to create too much.
"Steve (Banks) and Dave Tidy were our best players and when Dave Gellatly went back into the centre of midfield we did a lot better offensively without ever getting behind their back four too often."

Wasps failed to make the most of an ideal start. Less than two minutes had been played when Dave Hall's backward header looped over EP goalkeeper Andy McCarthy and bounced back to BANKS who bundled the ball home from close range for his ninth of the season.

The lead lasted just seven minutes. EP broke quickly from midfield to set up a chance for Farrell and although Tidy blocked his shot with his legs, HUCKETT reacted ahead of the defence to slam home the equaliser from six yards.

Neither side created much until the 39th minute when Huckett set up Farrell whose shot was parried by Tidy and on the stroke of half-time Huckett's drive from 20 yards crashed back off the post.

Grinstead's inexperienced defence badly missed Dave Stares, who was suffering from a recurrence of the ankle injury which has plagued him all season, and they suffered another blow when Dave Garrett was stretchered off on 65 minutes with a badly twisted knee.
By then Wasps had gone behind after a bad mistake by Grant Hearn who had two opportunities to clear his lines but gave the ball away to FARRELL who raced clear before slotting past the helpless Tidy.

There was more urgency to Grinstead's attacking play in the last 30 minutes but apart from a shot by James Horner straight at McCarthy and a Gellatly effort which went well over they struggled to create much.

The service from wide areas was fitfull, Scott Woolley struggled on his first start in midfield and Smith, as a former centre back himself, is well aware that Wasps lack a commanding presence in defence in the absence of Stares and Steve Moore.

EP looked much more of a threat on the counter-attack and in the closing stages Tidy excelled himself with two saves from Farrell and another from Huckett.

Grinstead: Tidy; Hearn, Dunstan, Garrett (sub: Twinn 65), Cooney; Horner, Hanson, Woolley (sub: Simpson 57), Dart; Gellatly, Banks.

:: East Grinstead Town 0, Chichester City United 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
A SPIRITED second half display against the unbeaten league leaders at least meant a traumatic week for Wasps' boss Bob Smith ended on an optimistic note.

East Court was still buzzing with the news of Kris Trevor's departure at kick-off but by the end the home fans were ready to acknowledge that there is life after Trevor.
It's unlikely that Adam Simpson will occupy Trevor's role as partner to Steve Banks up front simply because his style of play is too similar.
Simpson worked hard until he was replaced by Andrew Twinn midway through the second half but got little change out of a strong Chichester defence.

Wasps matched the unbeaten leaders in most facets of the game expect in the final third where Chichester's mobile forwards Roger Moore and Jamie Laidlaw made all the difference.

After a scrappy first quarter of the contest, Chichester went ahead on 24 minutes when Dan Stimpson got the final touch after Moore had headed down Mark Jackson's free-kick.
It was a soft goal to concede but Wasps didn't learn their lesson. Ten minutes later Russell Hardwell was allowed to advance unchecked before letting fly from 30 yards and beating Dave Tidy with a powerful drive inside the right-hand post.
Only Kevin Wright's timely block on the line denied Moore a goal just before half-time and it was 61 minutes before Grinstead made Chichester keeper Lee Preston work when Wright's volley produced a fingertip save.

There was nothing wrong with Wasps' workrate and Jackson got in a brave block with 15 minutes left when Banks got his only sight of goal all afternoon.
A goal then, when they had a measure of superiority for the first time in the match, would have made for an interesting finale. Instead substitute Adam Dart, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, was robbed by Hardwell who raced through and rounded Tidy before scoring his second. Game over.

Wasps deserved something for their efforts and only the woodwork denied them in injury time. Dart's left-footed free-kick from 20 yards rattled the bar and moments later Lee Hanson's volley struck the base of the post.

Too little too late of course, but Smith will have been consoled by the performance of Dave Garrett who returned after suspension to hold things together at the back on his 100th appearance.
And the manager's view that his side perform better when underfoot conditions are softer will also have been strengthened after this performance as a bobbly pitch made flowing football difficult. The Grinstead boss is praying for rain - as well as a new striker.

Grinstead: Tidy; Hearn, Wright (sub: Dart 77), Garrett, Stares; Dunstan, Hanson, Gellatly, Cooney; Simpson (sub: Twinn 66), Banks. Unused sub: Horner.

:: Selsey 3, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS were again without half a team through injury and suspension on Saturday, but manager Bob Smith refused to use that as an excuse for their poor performance on the south coast.
Instead he admitted to a tactical mistake of his own which was only rectified after Grinstead went 2-0 down and were heading for their fifth league defeat of the season.

He said: "I've got to take some of the responsibility. We played too high a line at the back and kept getting caught by balls over the top to two of the quickest forwards we have played against this season.
"As an ex-defender myself the worst thing is to keep having to turn and chase balls over the back of you.
"By the time we'd sorted things out we were chasing the game. It wasn't just that though. We didn't work hard enough as a side and when we got in good positions we didn't finish."

Smith was without six players. As well as long term injury victims Matt Thorpe, Steve Moore and Phil Thompson, both leftbacks Kevin Wright (groin) and Adam Dart (groin) were out along with skipper Dave Gellatly (blurred vision).
Gellatly's absence meant a first start in the front side for four years for veteran Steve Norris and he can pleased with his contribution.

Wasps started well and should have gone in front after eight minutes when Kris Trevor's pass found strike partner Steve Banks but he drilled his shot wide of the target with only the goalkeeper to beat.
It proved a false dawn. Selsey began to get on top, particularly in midfield where their five started to dominate. Norris and Lee Hanson manned the barricades as best they could, but they got little support out wide where James Horner, in particular, made a negligible contribution.

The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute. Paul Lee seemed to be offside as he raced clear to beat Dave Tidy, but there was nothing wrong with Lee's finish.

Five minutes later Tidy, who has been a reliable performer this season, hurriedly hacked a clearance straight to Andre Luis Rodrigues who couldn't believe his luck as he fired the ball towards an empty net. His shot bounced back off the post, but Lee was on hand to slide in his second.

Dave Stares had an appeal for a penalty turned down at the start of the second half when the defender appeared to be nudged off the ball and Trevor nearly got Grinstead, who had switched to a 3-4-3 formation, back into the game when his shot cannoned off the post and rolled along the line before it was hacked clear.
That was during a decent spell by the visitors, but they were finished off with 15 minutes left when Duncan Terry raced onto a through ball and Tidy had no option but to bring him down as he bore down on goal. Fortunately the referee decided a penalty was punishment enough and Matt Hurst made it 3-0.

Andrew Bruce made his first team debut as a second half substitute.

Grinstead: Tidy; Hearn, Stares, Cooney, Dunstan; Horner, Hanson, Norris, Twinn; Trevor, Banks. Subs: Simpson, Bruce. Unused sub: Smith.

:: East Grinstead Town 3, East Preston 2 (aet) :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS can look forward to a local derby at Redhill after coming from behind to win a thrilling RUR Cup tie in extra time at East Court on Saturday.

Two goals in six minutes early in the second half from Dave Stares and Steve Banks appeared to put Wasps in charge after they had trailed 1-0 at the interval.
But East Preston, a constant threat on the counter-attack, took the match into extra time thanks to Matt Huckett's 86th minute equaliser.
However Wasps proved the fitter and stronger outfit in extra time and missed some good chances either side of Banks' clincher, his seventh goal of the season, in the 107th minute.

Boss Bob Smith said: "After two defeats it was important for confidence that we got back to winning ways and I felt overall we deserved to win.
"The pleasing thing is that we got stronger in extra time and could have scored one or two more goals, but we looked a lot more solid overall and created a lot of chances."

Smith was able to bring back Stares to the heart of defence and Lee Hanson into midfield and he acknowledged that they gave Grinstead a more combative look while Banks had his best match of the season so far.

There's no doubt that Banks and Kris Trevor mean Wasps can always score a goal or two. The key appears to be keeping them out at the other end.
In that regard Drew Cooney, deputising for the suspended Grant Hearn alongside Stares, could be pleased with his afternoon's work while Elvis Lynn, making his senior debut on the left-hand side of midfield, put in a good shift in front of Adam Dart who dropped to leftback after Kevin Wright had to drop out an hour before kick-off because of a thigh injury sustained in training.

Wasps wasted two good chances before going behind. Banks' powerful header from James Horner's cross was headed off the line by Chris Yelling on six minutes before EP 'keeper Andy McCarthy rescued his side by saving Trevor's shot with his legs after Banks had put him through.
But the visitors were always a threat and a swift 39th-minute counter-attack led by Lee Farrell set up a simple finish for Simon Clayton to put his side in front.

Grinstead started the second half strongly and Dave Gellatly, who imposed himself more and more as the game wore on, saw his shot charged down with Lynn hammering the rebound against the left-hand post.
Four minutes later Wasps were level. Trevor darted into space on the left and found Banks who neatly flicked the ball over the advancing McCarthy.

In their next attack Wasps took the lead, Stares getting the final touch with his head from Dart's free-kick.
Banks clattered a shot against the underside of the bar as Wasps looked to kill off their opponents, but East Preston remained a threat through Huckett and Farrell.
With four minutes remaining the home defence allowed Huckett space to get in a shot and although Dave Tidy made a smart block and two follow-up efforts were hacked off the line Huckett eventually slammed in the equaliser.
And Grinstead almost threw the tie away in the last minute when a mistake by Dart, who mis-judged a bouncing ball, allowed Huckett in on goal but with only Tidy to beat he sliced his shot wide.

In the first period of extra time Tidy saved low from Jimmy Smith and Huckett crashed a header against the bar, but Wasps were transformed after that.
They took the lead when Gellatly found Trevor in space and his unselfish cut-back from the line gave Banks a tap-in second which made it 3-2.
Now Wasps were full of confidence again. Gellatly smashed his shot against the bar after a storming run took him past three tired challenges and Trevor's shot was cleared off the line after good work by Horner down the left.

The RUR Cup has been good to Wasps down the years. Their last major cup final appearance back in 1975 was in the competition and a trip to Redhill and then Hailsham, who would entertain the winners, would hold few fears.

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Dart, Cooney, Stares (sub: Woolley 89); Hanson, Horner, Gellatly, Lynn (sub: Twinn 65); Banks, Trevor.

:: Ringmer 3, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
INCONSISTENCY continues to plague Grinstead in their first season back in County League Division One.

Saturday's 3-2 defeat at the Caburn Field was their second in four days following three straight wins and sent Bob# Smith's men back into the bottom half of the table.

Wasps looked to be heading for three points when they twice led through goals from Adam Dart and Luke Dunstan, their first at senior level.
But Ringmer fought back to equalise twice and grabbed the winner with seven minutes left when Chris Johnson beat the offside trap, rounded Dave Tidy and stroked the ball into an empty net.

It was tough on a patched-up Grinstead side who deserved a point for their endeavours on an afternoon when the standard of defending on both sides left a lot to be desired.

Smith was again without half a team. In addition to injury victims Matt Thorpe, Steve Moore and Phil Thompson, he was also missing the suspended Dave Garrett, holidaying Dave Stares and James Horner (work commitments).
There were two changes to the team beaten 2-1 by Whitehawk last Tuesday with Kris Trevor making a welcome return up front, 11 days after the worrying incident at Hailsham when he had to be revived on the pitch.
Andrew Twinn made his full debut in midfield but Grinstead were on the back foot early on with Dave Tidy making good saves from Paul Stokes and Chris Johnson in the first five minutes.
But Wasps, kicking down the infamous Ringmer slope, got into the game and went ahead with the first chance they created when Dart ghosted in at the back post to head home Twinn's cross after 26 minutes.
Ringmer goalkeeper Simon Green saved Trevor's shot with his legs shortly afterwards and denied the front man again while at the other end Dominic Shepherd and Paul Stokes had half-chances.

Ringmer equalised six minutes before the break when Wasps were caught square by Stuart Garrod's ball over the top and Shepherd, a proven goalscorer in Sussex for many years now, calmly rounded Tidy before picking his spot.
It looked as if the home side might now take control. Instead, on the stroke of half-time, Kevin Wright beat three opponents in a storming run down the left before picking out the unmarked Dunstan who slotted the ball past Green.
If only some of his team-mates had been as unselfish as Wright at the start of the second half when Wasps had great chances to stretch their advantage.

Dart and Banks both had efforts charged down in the six yard box, Green saved at full stretch from Banks and Trevor was again denied the keeper's outstretched legs before Dart did well down the left but found no takers when he rolled the ball across the face of goal.

Ringmer always threatened from set pieces and Wasps' wastefulness was punished after 70 minutes when Andy Johnson curled a free-kick from the edge of the box into the bottom corner after a clumsy challenge by Grant Hearn.
Ringmer now had the upper hand and as Grinstead continued to look shaky at the back it was no surprise when Chris Johnson stole in for what turned out to be the winner.

To compound a disappointing afternoon, boss Smith was sent from the dug out in the first half for swearing at the referee after a particularly heavy challenge on Trevor went unpunished. Dunstan and Raymond were also booked.

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Wright, Raymond, Hearn; Twinn (sub: Lynn 77), Cooney, Gellatly, Dart (sub: Burns 84); Banks, Trevor.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Whitehawk 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
UNDERSTRENGTH Wasps suffered their second home defeat of the season and could have no complaints about the outcome against a well-drilled Whitehawk team at East Court on Tuesday night.

Grinstead were missing seven players through injury or suspension and were on the back foot for long stages in the first half before going behind on 43 minutes when Kevin Wright failed to clear his lines on the edge of the box and Simon Rowland had time and space to beat Dave Tidy.

The visitors went 2-0 ahead on 55 minutes when the dangerous Ryan MacBride found Kevin Townsend in the box and he gave Tidy no chance from close range.
Tidy made good saves from MacBride and Rowland, but the introduction of three substitutes finally galvanised the home side into action. Chris Arrow volleyed just wide with 20 minutes left and another of the subs, Andrew Twinn, found Steve Banks with an angled cross on 87 minutes which Banks converted at the second attempt to pull a goal back.

Manager Bob Smith said: "I'm disappointed because until the subs came on we failed to match their commitment. If we'd done so earlier in the game we could have got something out of it."

Grinstead: Tidy; Dunstan, Wright, Raymond, Hearn; Horner (sub: Twinn 60), Gellatly, Cooney, Dart (sub: Lynn 73); Banks, Burns (sub: Arrow 60).

:: East Grinstead Town 4, Sidley United 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS made it three wins in a week after a convincing performance against first division rivals Sidley in Saturday's Sussex Senior Cup first round tie at East Court.

Grinstead now face East Preston, also at home, after following up successive league wins over Southwick and Hailsham with another impressive display.

Manager Bob Smith was delighted, especially as his team was severely weakened by injury and illness. In addition to long-term absentees Lee Hanson and Phil Thompson, he was also without strikers Kris Trevor and Ben Burns who pulled out during the warm-up after suffering from a virus all week.

Burns was replaced by Marc Tramontin who made his first first-team start for over three years having been at University in the meantime.


Marc Tramontin

With Dave Stares on holiday, Luke Dunstan returned at rightback with Grant Hearn switching to the centre of defence.
Sidley enjoyed plenty of first-half possession but lacked any sort of cutting edge. At the other end Adam Dart, Steve Banks and Tramontin all went close before Wasps took a 44th minute lead when Banks' shot was handled by defender Owen Ball and Horner gave Danny Poole no chance from the spot.

The goal sent confidence flooding through the home side and they doubled their lead on 63 minutes, allbeit after a terrible mistake by Poole whose throw out struck Horner. He couldn't believe his luck as he was able to prod the ball into an empty net.


James' Penalty

Midfielder Dave Gellatly capped his best performance of the season with the third on 70 minutes when he raced onto a pass from substitute Andrew Twinn and cutting inside a defender before firing past Poole.

To cap a miserable afternoon for the visitors, Mark Freeman turned Horner's near post cross past his own keeper to make it 4-0 with seven minutes left.

Smith said: "We were disrupted by injury and unavailability but it was still a very solid performance. The first goal was always going to be important but once we'd gone in front I thought we played some decent stuff and were worthy winners in the end."

Grinstead: Tidy, Dunstan (sub: Lynn 71), Wright, Garrett, Hearn, Cooney, Horner, Gellatly, Tramontin (sub: Twinn 57), Banks, Dart.

:: Hailsham 1, East Grinstead Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS' first away win in County League Division One for a decade was overshadowed by the incident involving Kris Trevor who had to be revived on the pitch after he fell awkwardly following a 55th minute challenge from home defender Leon Legge.
It certainly took a lot of the gloss of what was an excellent display although players on both sides were glad to hear that Kris was on the mend when they returned to the changing rooms at the end.

Kris scored twice after Steve Banks had headed us into a seventh minute lead from James Horner's right-wing cross.
Three minutes later Dave Stares' pass enabled Kris to burst between two defenders and fire a low shot past Jamie Furber.
Only Furber's outstretched legs denied Kris again on 20 minutes with Adam Dart, returning to the side in place of Stuart Hardy, the provider. Adam played on the left enabling Dave Gellatly to switch infield.

It looked as if we had scored again on 35 minutes when Furber saved Stares' header and Banks' follow-up effort appeared to cross the line, but the linesman kept his flag down.

Adam was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after he reacted to a heavy challenge from Mark French by pushing him in the back and just before half-time Tobi Hutchison squandered a great chance to pull one back but struck the bar with only Dave Tidy to beat.

Wasps made the game safe on 48 minutes, Kris racing clear onto a pass from Kevin Wright before slotting home.
His night ended abruptly seven minutes later and when the match re-started we looked a bit flat which was hardly surprising given the circmstances.

Graham Overton pulled one back on 65 minutes after we failed to clear a corner while Leon Legge hit the post, but on the counter-attack substitute Ben Burns and Dave Gellatly also went close. Andrew Twinn made his first team debut with 18 minutes left, replacing James Horner.

Grinstead: Tidy; Hearn, Garrett, Stares, Wright; Horner (sub: Twinn 72), Cooney, Gellatly, Dart; Trevor (sub: Burns 56), Banks. Unused sub: Dunstan

:: East Grinstead Town 2, Southwick 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
DAVE STAIRS celebrated his debut with a goal as Wasps ended a six-match winless run with a thoroughly deserved league win over Southwick at East Court on Saturday.
Stairs has been plagued by an ankle injury suffered in pre-season but he produced an impressive display alongside Dave Garrett at the heart of the Grinstead defence.
And on 39 minutes he showed Wasps' wasteful forwards where the goal was, bundling the loose ball into the net after his header from James Horner's corner had been saved by Rob Pockney.


Dave Stairs' 39th minute Goal!

It was no more than Grinstead deserved and they continued to squander chance after chance in the second half until substitute Ben Burns was put through by Kris Trevor to seal victory with five minutes left.

Boss Bob Smith said: "It was an important three points which we thoroughly deserved. All the time it was 1-0 you wondered whether they might get back into the game because we wasted so many good chances, but they didn't create much to be honest.
"Dave did really well and his goal was a nice bonus and I thought we worked hard as a side. Every time we've kept a clean sheet this season we have won and we have given ourselves something to build on with this result."

Grinstead keeper Dave Tidy didn't have a save of note to make all afternoon as Wasps created and wasted a succession of chances, starting in the fourth minute when Trevor capitalised on a mistake by Jason Tighe only to hit the post with Pockney out of position and an open goal gaping.

There were other half chances before Stairs struck, but it was in the second half that Wasps really got on top.
Trevor fired wide on 46 minutes with only Pockney to beat after Jason Flemming's slip on the edge of the box had let in the Grinstead striker and seven minutes later Horner's cross was headed over by Stuart Hardy.

As Southwick's goal led a charmed life Pockney blocked Dave Gellatly's goalbound shot with his legs, Jamie Ash deflected Trevor's effort from close range for a corner and Pockney spread himself bravely again midway through the half to deny Hardy.

The pace slackened in the last 20 minutes as the 80-degree heat took its toll, but Wasps still found alarming gaps in the Southwick defence which they were unable to exploit. Trevor's unselfish pass teed up Gellatly but he fired wide and the midfielder also blazed over from ten yards.

Burns, a 72nd minute substitute for Steve Banks, finally eased any nerves with his second goal of the season.

Grinstead: Tidy, Hearn, Wright, Garrett, Stairs, Hardy, Horner (sub: Dart 60), Gellatly, Banks (sub: Burns 72), Trevor, Cooney. Unused sub: Simpson.

:: East Grinstead Town 0, St Leonards 4 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
THIS always looked like being our toughest assignment since promotion to Division One, but our hopes of upsetting a side in the Dr Martens League weren't helped by two extraordinary decisions from the stand side assistant who kept his flag down when everyone else in the ground thought Gavin Ramsden was offside as he scored on 24 and 35 minutes to put the visitors 2-0 up and in control.

Until the opener, Wasps had been on top. David Garrett squandered two great opportunities to beat goalkeeper Gavin Ramsden in the 10th minute after a barnstorming run down the right-hand flank and Ramsden came to their rescue again ten minutes later, touching a header from Steve Banks round the post from Stuart Hardy's cross.

But the assistant's mistakes completely knocked the stuffing out of us and we were still on our heels when Dave Flemming made it 3-0 after 36 minutes, stepping inside our defence before lashing the ball past Dave Tidy from close range.

Incredibly, Ramsden got through again before half-time but screwed his shot wide with only Tidy to beat.

The first 20 minutes of the second half saw St Leonards at their best. Tidy made two great saves to deny Keith Miles who also missed from six yards when he should have scored.

We regained a foothold in the contest in the last 20 minutes and Nessling denied us a consolation with saves from Kris Trevor and Steve Banks before Miles fired home from 20 yards in injury time to rub salt into our wounds.

Nevertheless this was a much improved performance compared to Hassocks last Saturday. Dave Garrett impressed on the right and was probably our man of the match. Shame everyone left talking about the linesman rather than the entertainment which both teams served up.

Grinstead: Tidy; Garrett, Wright, Cooney (sub: Burns 74), Hearn; Thompson, Hardy, Gellatly, Dart (sub: Horner 68); Banks (sub: Arrow 88), Trevor.

:: AFC Newbury 2, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
INJURY-HIT Wasps were left regretting missed chances, including a first half penalty, as their hopes of an FA Vase run bit the dust in Berkshire on Saturday.

Grinstead were without the holidaying Steve Banks, cup-tied Stuart Hardy and fellow midfielder Lee Hanson, who had a foot injury, but ought to have at least taken their Wessex League hosts to a replay.

Newbury's biggest let off came in the 21st minute when Grinstead's top scorer Kris Trevor wasted not one but three opportunities from the penalty spot after he had been tripped in the box.
Richard Johnson saved his first effort but the referee ruled he had moved before the kick was taken. Exactly the same thing happened again but by the time Trevor stepped up for a third time he lacked any confidence and Johnson was able to make the easiest of his three saves.


Grinstead boss Bob Smith said: "That knocked the stuffing out of us a bit. With a full-strength side we would have beaten them because they were not that special although they were well organised.
"We just don't seem to have the confidence in our own ability when we play teams from other leagues. Perhaps it's because we are a young side who are still learning, but they were there for the taking."

Smith was able to welcome Dave Garrett back to defence while Hanson's midfield berth went to Chris Raymond who made his first appearance for 11 months and did a solid job.

"No one played poorly and Dave Tidy in goal had little to do, but we only played in fits and starts," added Smith. "Having said that, if we'd scored the penalty then I don't think we would have lost."

Wasps' best chances fell to Adam Simpson whose powerful drive was saved at full stretch by Johnson and Phil Thompson whose angled effort in the second half hit the side netting.


Newbury won the game with two goals in two minutes at the start of the second half. Guy Roberts was allowed to run unchecked from midfield before unleashing a 35 yard drive which Tidy did well to get a hand to as it powered into the roof of the net.

Then on 50 minutes Luke Dunstan's trip on Brian Wood earned Newbury a free kick on the edge of the box which Wood despatched past the helpless Tidy.

At 2-0 down Wasps threw caution to the wind and had plenty of pressure but the hosts, managed by former Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday striker Guy Whittingham, were sufficiently well organised to hold onto their advantage.

Grinstead: Tidy, Dunstan, Wright, Cooney, Hearn, Garrett, Raymond, Gellatly, Thompson, Simpson, Trevor. Subs (all used): Moseley, Burns, Twinn.

:: East Grinstead Town 3, Eastbourne Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page