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:: Seaford Town 5, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
BOSS Bob Smith ended up playing as Grinstead's County League season ended with a heavy defeat on Saturday.
Injuries had already decimated the squad and by half-time at Seaford all three subs were on the pitch after Kevin Wright and Scott Johnston (both hamstring) and Brian Tilley (knee) limped off.
Smith had only named himself as third sub in case of emergencies but came on to play at right back for the entire second half - not bad for a 44-year-old.
He said: "We were without several players already and the injuries just made it worse. We started the game really well and could have been in front but we didn't defend very well. The scoreline flattered them somewhat but it was still disappointing to finish so badly.
"But I did okay - although I felt it a bit on Sunday!"
Wasps ended their season seventh in County League division two - the most telling statistic of the campaign was that they only won one and drew one in 12 games against teams above them.
Among the absentees on Saturday were Simon Tadman, who is recovering from a broken leg and Jez Tobin, who scored in successive games after his promotion from the youth team before injuring his hamstring in last Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at home to Sidlesham. Their pace and ability in the attacking third was badly missed, although Ben Burns and Matt Garrett worked hard up front.
In a lively opening, Richard Foyle and Andy Goodwin both went close after good work on the left by Steve Major while Major lobbed over the target after he had been put through.
Seaford hadn't threatened but after 27 minutes they took the lead when Tilley could only clear as far as Lewis Wingate on the edge of the box and he gave Dave Tidy no chance with his firmly-struck shot.
Five minutes later Liam Keith profited at the far post when Foyle failed to clear his lines and the third goal in 15 minutes arrived just before half-time when Keith scored his second after Wasps failed to deal with a free-kick.
In the last 18 minutes Keith headed home his hat-trick goal and Scott Allison made it 5-0 with another unchallenged header.
It wasn't all one-way traffic with Garrett squandering a good opportunity after good work by top scorer Burns, who also saw his free-kick saved.
After a short break Smith will get down to work strengthening his squad in time for a promotion challenge next season.
"We know the areas where we have to improve and I'm confident we can make the additions to the squad we need," he said. "The work has already started so it won't be much of a summer break for me but we are all aware of how important it is that we challenge for promotion next season."

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Sidlesham 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
BOSS Bob Smith admitted Wasps' recent schedule finally caught up with them on Tuesday as they ended their home campaign with a disappointing defeat to Sidlesham.

It was Grinstead's fifth game in ten days and they seldom looked like getting back into the contest after Dave Towers' 49th minute goal put the visitors on their way to their first away win of the season.

This defeat means the highest Grinstead can finish the Division Two campaign is fifth while they could drop as low as seventh depending on Saturday's results when Wasps wind up their campaign at Seaford.

Only the purposeful runs of Jez Tobin offered any threat up front for Wasps in a poor first half during which neither goalkeeper was tested. Sidlesham, who secured their place in Division Two only on Saturday, went ahead after 49 minutes when Grinstead failed to deal with a left-wing cross and Towers bundled the ball home at the near post.

Tobin hobbled off after 55 minutes and Ben Burns came off with ten minutes to go because of a sore hamstring.

By then Sidlesham had gone 2-0 ahead after 76 minutes when Michael Turville's poor headed clearance fell straight to Jimmy Leggett who gave Dave Tidy no chance with his powerful shot.

Wasps pulled a goal back after 87 minutes when substitute Matt Garrett was brought down in the box and James Horner scored from the penalty spot.

Smith said: "I'm afraid a few of the lads were running on empty. We just lacked that sharpness we've had which is not surprising because it's been a very heavy schedule in the last fortnight. Hopefully we can finish the season strongly by winning on Saturday - fifth place is all we can achieve now and that is what we will be aiming for."

Grinstead: Tidy; Turville, Wright, Thorpe, Day; Tilley, Thompson, Horner, Major; Burns (sub: Neville 80), Tobin (sub: Garrett 55).

:: Pagham 0, East Grinstead Town 5 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
RUTHLESS WASPS ARE FIVE ALIVE

Although Pagham had plenty of possession at Nyetimber Lane today they didn’t test Dave Tidy too many times while the pace of Grinstead’s attacking play caused them all sorts of problems.

James Horner broke the deadlock after 23 minutes when Pagham failed to clear Steve Major’s low, left wing cross and Horner’s powerful shot gave goalkeeper James Leahy no chance.

Wasps had to re-jig their defence when Richard Foyle went off with a calf injury, allowing Kevin Wright to come on and make his 250th appearance for the club.

Grinstead continued to look threatening and they doubled their lead two minutes before half-time. Pagham defender James Heller’s attempted header back towards his own goal fell woefully short and Burns nipped in ahead of Leahy to volley home.

Burns struck again four minutes into the second half to make the game safe when his corner on the right completely deceived Leahy as it sailed over him at the far post.

Pagham struggled to cope with Burns’ set-pieces throughout. Day headed over from one and another corner had to be cleared off the line by a defender.

But it was 4-0 on 74 minutes when Grinstead won a corner on the left and worked the ball to Tobin whose low, close-range finish gave Leahy no chance.

Burns completed his hat-trick two minutes from time, timing his run to perfection from Phil Thompson’s through ball before firing past Leahy as Pagham appealed in vain for offside.

Grinstead: Tidy; Harrison, Foyle (sub: Wright 30), Tilley, Day, Thorpe, Horner, Thompson, Burns, Tobin, Major.

:: East Grinstead Town 2, Broadbridge Heath 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
YOUNGSTER Jez Tobin scored his first senior goal within a minute of coming off the bench as Wasps made it four league wins out of five at East Court on Wednesday night.

Tobin had only just replaced Adrian Bell up front when he guided a header from Steve Major's left-wing cross inside the post after 65 minutes. Wasps made sure of a victory which lifts them up to sixth in the second division table 14 minutes later.

Heath captain Giorgio Alfieri tried to head clear Phil Thompson's cross but only found Ben Burns who volleyed in his 17th goal of the season from close range.

Had Tobin been a bit more ruthless he could have scored twice more late on as Wasps finished the game strongly.

Heath got their consolation in injury time when substitute Jamie Bucket guided in Michael Brownlee's cross but referee Ray Upton, who had a good game, blew for full-time a few moments later.

The first half was full of energy and endeavour from both sides but only two shots on target.

Thompson forced a full-length save out of Ray Collier, the former Grinstead player, with a fiercely-struck shot from just inside the box. Heath responded and Dave Tidy palmed Nick Humble's drive over the bar before Brownlee missed a great chance on the stroke of half-time when he side-footed wide from 12 yards with only Tidy to beat.

Grinstead boss Bob Smith said: "I was delighted for Jez. He came off the bench and made a real impact and I thought he linked up well with Ben. "It's a shame we couldn't keep a clean sheet but it's another three points and we're still on course to finish in the top four or five if we can win our last three games."

Defender Miles Neville came on for the last ten minutes to make his first-team debut.

Grinstead: Tidy, Harrison, Foyle (sub: Neville 80), Thorpe, Day, Tilley, Horner, Thompson, Bell (sub: Tobin 64), Burns, Major (sub: Wright 70).

:: East Grinstead Town 0, Crawley Down 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
HONOURS were even in the local derby at East Court on Monday and that was probably a fair outcome after both teams squandered some good chances.

Wasps missed the threat Simon Tadman offers up front. Tadman is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery on Sunday for the double leg-break he suffered in the 4-2 win over Westfield on Saturday.

In Tadman's absence, Adrian Bell partnered Ben Burns up front and Burns had the first opportunity in the ninth minute when his snap shot forced a full-length save out of Matt Heasman.

Grinstead carried the greater attacking threat in the first half with only Mark Saunders' header from a free-kick troubling Dave Tidy at the other end.

But clear-cut openings were rare - Burns fired a free-kick from 20 yards at Heasman and James Horner flicked a header over after good work by Steve Major on the left.

The visitors upped their tempo after the break and looked more likely to break the deadlock.

In a five-minute spell midway through the second half Jamie Baldwin and Saunders fired wide from good positions then Bobby Buckingham made a great goalline clearance to deny Saunders before Nick Sullivan, scorer of a hat-trick at Crawley Down on Boxing Day, was kept out by Dave Tidy as the Grinstead goal led a charmed life.

Bob Smith, back in the dugout after serving his ban, sent on three subs and striker Jez Tobin caused the visitors some problems with his direct style while Horner blasted over from just inside the box when he had a clear sight of goal.

For Wasps, Matt Thorpe and Chris Day stood out at the back but long before the end players on both sides were feeling the effects of a second game in 48 hours and a stamina-sapping pitch.

Smith felt a draw was the right outcome. "I thought we played well in the first half but they had a good spell after the break and we had to defend well which we did.

"We got a second wind at the end when young Jez Tobin came on but overall I don't think either side could complain - it was a fair result."

Grinstead: Tidy; Buckingham (sub: Harrison), Foyle, Tilley, Day, Thorpe, Horner, Thompson, Burns, Bell (sub: Tobin), Major (sub: Pelling).

:: East Grinstead Town 4, Westfield 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
SECOND HALF GOALS CLINCH VICTORY

Wasps were ultimately comfortable winners against a decent Westfield side who started the day in fifth place.

They got an ideal start with a goal after three minutes. Westfield could only clear a corner as far as Ben Burns and his centre was met by defender Michael Turville who claimed his third goal of the season with a close range shot.

James Horner wasted two good chances to extend the lead and Wasps were punished on 30 minutes when Danny Pepper equalised with a close range header from a cross on the right.

But Wasps always looked to have the edge and two goals in three second-half minutes effectively settled the outcome.

Horner produced a great individual effort to make it 2-1 after 75 minutes when he waltzed past two defenders and ‘keeper Podmore before rolling the ball into the net.

Three minutes later Burns was tripped in the penalty area and made no mistake from the penalty spot to score his 16th goal of the season.

Dominic Clarke scrambled in a second for Westfield two minutes later before the terrible events of the last seven minutes when Tadman’s injury cast a shadow over what had been an entertaining game.

Fullback Scott Harrison made his first-team debut as a second-half substitute and when Tadman went off Phil Major – running the side while Smith completed his touchline ban – got a brief taste of first-team action five days short of his 45th birthday alongside son Steve.

Grinstead: Tidy, Buckingham, Foyle (sub: Harrison), Tilley, Turville, Thorpe, Horner, Thompson, Burns (sub: Bell), Tadman (sub: P.Major), S.Major.

:: East Grinstead Town 2, Lancing 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Phil Thompson heads home winnerBACK TO BACK WINS

On the pitch Wasps made it back-to-back wins when they came from behind to beat Lancing 2-1 at East Court.

A bumpy pitch meant both sides struggled to play a passing game but the match livened up after a disappointing first hour.

Richie Partridge finished off a Lancing breakaway down the right to give them a 60th-minute lead, but Wasps levelled 18 minutes later when Simon Tadman showed excellent skills after he was set up by Ben Burns before drilling home his 15th goal of the season.

Then, with five minutes to go, Burns’ corner was met by midfielder Phil Thompson who capped an energetic display with a headed winner, his seventh goal of the season.

It followed last Tuesday’s excellent 2-1 win at promotion-chasing Wealden.

Grinstead: Tidy, Buckingham (sub: Day), Wright, Tilley (sub: Bell 22), Turville, Thorpe, Horner, Thompson, Burns, Tadman, Horner.

:: Wealden 1, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS enjoyed arguably their best result of the season when they came from behind to beat promotion-chasing Wealden at Hailsham's Beaconsfield ground.

Bob Smith brought in Matt Thorpe as sweeper with Richard Foyle switching to right back in the only changes to the side which played St Francis in their last game a fortnight ago.

Thorpe did an excellent job to shore up a defence which had conceded four goals against Saints but he wasn't the only good performer in an amber and black shirt.

There was an energy and purpose throughout the whole side and Grinstead showed plenty of character to come back after a double blow early in the second half.

The first period lacked goalmouth action but Wasps had the better chances. James Horner's drive brought a reaction save out of Jamie Skates and Grinstead were convinced Jay Head had handled Simon Tadman¹s shot on the line two minutes before the break, but referee Barry Crowhurst waved the appeals away.

At the other end John Peter got clear of the visitors' defence but his shot was woefully off target when he only had Dave Tidy to beat.

Wealden went ahead in the 53rd minute when Kevin Wright mis-judged the bounce and allowed Dan Garrod to burst into the box before crossing low to the far post where Peter scored from close range.

Wasps should have levelled eight minutes later when Ben Burns turned superbly in the box and was brought down by Ian Breeds. However Horner's penalty struck the outside of the left-hand post.

But Wasps did equalise within three minutes. Tadman, whose pace was a constant threat, burst into the penalty area and produced a finish to match - his low, angled drive giving Skates no chance.

Burns shot straight at Skates after combining with Tadman a minute later and it Wasps who looked the more confident side in the closing stages. They were rewarded with five minutes left when Tadman dispossessed Reece Head and squared the ball to Burns who shot past the onrushing Skates - much to the delight of a large contingent of Grinstead supporters.

Wealden's night went from bad to worse when captain Steve Davis was sent off in injury time for a foul on Steve Major - his second bookable offence.

This victory lifts Wasps two places up to eighth in division two ahead of Saturday's home game against Lancing, kick off 3.00pm.

Grinstead: Tidy; Foyle (Buckingham 50), Wright, Tilley, Turville, Thorpe, Horner, Thompson, Burns (sub: Leete 90), Tadman, Major. Unused sub: Day.

:: East Grinstead Town 0, St Francis Rangers 4 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
James Horner on ballMAKESHIFT Wasps were no match for promotion-chasing Saints at a freezing cold East Court on Tuesday night as they suffered a second home defeat in three days.

No fewer than seven players who would be considered first choices were absent. Barry Leete, Adam Dart and Ben Burns were all suffering from a virus, Bobby Buckingham and Brian Tilley were unavailable and Matt Thorpe and Drew Cooney both injured.

It was always going to be tough against a St Francis side who moved into second place as a result of this victory.

With Bob Smith starting his touchline ban, Phil Major ran the side and had to make four changes to last Saturday’s team. There were recalls for Luke Dunstan, Chris Day and Richard Foyle while Matt Garrett partnered Simon Tadman up front.

Two goals in the last five minutes flattered the visitors although there is no question they deserved to win.

A re-shaped home defence struggled to cope with Saints in the first half when loan striker Phil Gault ran the line well and the visitors got players supporting quickly from midfield.

After an even first quarter-of-an-hour the deadlock was broken after 18 minutes when Peter Aylett scored at the second attempt with a header after Dave Tidy had parried his initial shot.

Grinstead’s marking was poor and it was the same again when Aylett finished well from close range to make it 2-0 after 31 minutes.

Major must have fired things up because Wasps played with much more spirit in the second half and if they had scored the goal their pressure deserved it would have made things very interesting.

Chances were created. James Horner’s shot hit the post, Tadman and Phil Thompson were inches away with headed efforts and Kevin Wright also went close while Horner fired a free-kick from the left-hand edge of the box just over.

In midfield Foyle got through a lot of hard work, winning tackles and breaking up play and St Francis rarely threatened for 30 minutes or so.

But Wasps surrendered two more poor goals from a defensive view in the closing stages.

A half-cleared corner was buried from the edge of the box by Mark Enticknap and defender Chris Cook had the freedom of the six yard box to head in the fourth goal in injury time.

Youth teamer Scott Johnston came on for the last ten minutes to make his first-team debut at right back.

At least some of the walking wounded should be available for Saturday’s home game against Broadbridge Heath (3pm) when a good result is needed to lift spirits around East Court.

Team: Tidy; Day (sub: Johnston 80), Turville, Dunstan, Wright; Horner, Foyle, Thompson, Major (sub: Alexander 73), Garrett (sub: Richardson 73), Tadman.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Saltdean Utd 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Phil Thompson with Bobby and Micky looking onWasps should have been in control at half-time but they only had one goal to show for their superiority. It came after 34 minutes when Adam Dart’s cross deceived goalkeeper Carl Smeaton. The ball came back off the bar and Horner tapped in from a yard.

Smeaton had already made two excellent saves, tipping Simon Tadman’s eighth minute volley over the bar before parrying Burns’ shot onto the post after Tadman had set up the chance.

Then just before half-time Burns made space inside the box to shoot just wide of the target.

Smeaton was again called into action after the break. He saved Tadman’s shot at the near post on 56 minutes and four minutes later denied Burns with his legs after a four-man move – Wasps’ best of the match – had opened up Saltdean.

But the game changed on 64 minutes when Wright impeded Ian Costello as they challenged for a 50-50 ball. It was a clever piece of play by Costello which won his side a penalty converted by Roy Pook.

Wasps continued to create chances and Burns was again off target on 75 minutes when Tadman set him up.

At the other end Tidy kept out Lee Slade’s close-range header with his legs before Saltdean swooped to clinch a dramatic win.

Major shaping up to crossWith three minutes left Mark Saxby’s cross was missed by Wright and the unmarked Craig Bunch fired past Tidy before vaulting over the barrier to embark on an elaborate celebration.

In the context of Saltdean’s relegation battle it might prove to be the most important goal of the season, yet Wasps almost levelled when Brian Tilley got on the end of Burns’ free-kick but his header was smuggled off the line by Stuart Clarke.

As Wasps committed men in search of a goal, Saltdean clinched the points with a breakaway goal by Costello in the sixth minute of injury time. It was a cruel finale for Grinstead but those missed chances were so costly.

Team: Tidy, Buckingham, Dart, Tilley, Wright, Turville, Horner, Thompson, Burns, Tadman, Major (sub: Upton 86). Unused sub: Dunstan.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Mile Oak 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
LATE LEVELLER MEANS HONOURS EVEN

WASPS missed the chance to continue their climb up the County League division two table after they were pegged back by an 81st-minute equaliser at East Court on Tuesday.

Grinstead’s defenders were furious when substitute Paul Eaton bundled the ball over the line, claiming that he and two team-mates were in offside positions but it was no more than the visitors deserved.

They dominated the last half hour as Wasps gave away far too many free-kicks against a side renowned for their prowess at set-pieces.

In a frantic finale both sides hit the post. Scott Carden’s half-volley shaved the upright for Oak three minutes after their goal and then in injury time substitute John Richardson’s low drive came back off the post at the other end.

Grinstead created some great chances in the first half but only took one of them. That came after seven minutes when Mile Oak’s Paul Ettridge played Simon Tadman on side and Tadman nipped into space before driving a powerful shot past Richard Whittington to score his 13th goal of the season.

Wasps should have been in complete control by half-time. Whitington denied Tadman on 32 minutes and James Horner, who created the chance, then set up Tadman again four minutes later. Whittington blocked his shot and when the ball fell loose Ben Burns blazed over from eight yards.

Moments before half-time Grinstead opened up the visitors on the break but with Whittington stranded yards out of his penalty area Burns failed to get enough height on his lob towards an empty net and the danger was cleared.

Whittington denied Tadman again early in the second half but gradually Mile Oak began to get on top although Phil Thompson was inches away from making it 2-0 after 58 minutes when he flicked Burns’ left-wing cross goalwards only for the ball to shave the post.

Oak dominated territorially in the last half hour Dave Tidy in the home goal didn’t have too many saves to make although he was grateful that Michael Turville got in the way of Wayne Whitington’s piledriver.

Tony Burnett and Eaton were both off target from good positions but just when it looked as if Wasps might hold on, Whitington crossed from the left, the home defence hesitated in anticipation of a flag and Eaton was one of three green shirts at the far post queueing up to get the vital touch.

Pluses for Wasps were the return of Adam Dart after missing nine games with a thigh strain and another encouraging display by fullback Bobby Buckingham. With Kevin Wright at sweeper Wasps looked a lot more solid defensively.

Team: Tidy; Buckingham, Dart, Tilley, Turville, Wright, Horner (sub: Richardson 76), Thompson, Burns, Tadman, Major. Unused sub: Garrett (M).

:: East Grinstead Town 4, Steyning Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
BEN Burns and Phil Thompson both scored twice as Wasps returned to winning ways in County League division two today.

The East Court faihtful was given plenty of entertainment by two teams who were often prepared to sacrifice defensive duties in the search for goals.

Wasps always looked more creative and, in the second half at least, were a bit more assured at the back.

With Tom Green out with an ankle injury and Matt Thorpe unavailable, manager Bob Smith brought back Burnsy after suspension while Michael Turville replaced Green alongside Luke Dunstan in defence.

And Grinstead made a storming start with two goals in the first 11 minutes.

Jimmy Horner, twice, and Burns had already gone close when Burns swung over a corner from the left and Thompson’s header had enough power to beat defender James Edmonds’ attempts to clear on the line.

In their next attack Wasps doubled their lead when Brian Tilley’s 25-yard drive cannoned off a defender and fell conveniently into the path of Burns who gave goalkeeper Keith Cheal no chance with a curling shot from 15 yards inside the right-hand post.

Wasps looked like scoring every time they went forward at that stage but Steyning gradually began to threaten at the other end as the game quickly got very stretched.

Dave Tidy made a smothering block when the lively Josh Wallis got clear on the half-hour but Steyning were back in the game three minutes later when Daryl Hunter arrowed a free-kick inside the post from 20 yards past Tidy and a five-man defensive wall - a poor goal to concede although it was a decent strike.

But Wasps restored their two-goal lead within a minute, however, although there was a touch of fortune about Phil's second and seventh of the campaign. Aiming to find the back post with his cross, his shot from 15 yards sailed over Cheal and into the far corner of the net.

But we still looked jittery at the back and in the space of two minutes before the break Turville, Kevin Wright and Bobby Buckingham all had to clear the ball off the line with Hunter, twice, and Wallis the men denied as Grinstead struggled to clear successive Steyning corners.

Ben had a headed goal disallowed within a minute of the re-start but the visitors still looked dangerous and Tidy made a brave save to deny Ryan Pratt after 53 minutes.

But with Tilley offering the back four more protection and Wright organising those around him well, Grinstead were much more solid in the second half and Steyning only threatened again with 13 minutes remaining when Hunter – who was easily their best player – broke clear but Tidy got down well to make another brave save.

By then Wasps had added an excellent fourth goal. Buckingham found Tadman down the right and he beat a defender before curling an inviting cross between Cheal and his defenders which Burns rifled in at the far post to claim his 14th goal of the season.

Smith said: “We had a young side out there and at times I thought we played some good attacking football. Defensively we were a lot better in the second half but we did enough, nothing more. Ben returned to the side and improved things and I thought Phil Thompson in midfield did well."

Team: Tidy; Buckingham (sub: M.Garrett 73), Wright, Dunstan (sub: Foyle 71), Turville; Horner (sub: Richardson 81), Tilley, Thompson, Major; Burns, Tadman.

:: East Grinstead Town 0, Selsey 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
SOLID SELSEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SLOPPY GRINSTEAD

Solid, workmanlike Selsey took advantage of some sloppy defending to record an ultimately comfortable win against a Grinstead side rarely at their best – particularly in midfield - despite winning their two previous games and scoring nine goals in the process.

Things might have been different had Simon Tadman taken two great chances in the first five minutes.

Tadman, playing in attack alongside 19-goal Barry Leete, fired just wide from Matt Thorpe’s left-wing cross after two minutes before racing clear of the Selsey defence only to be denied by goalkeeper Rob Hill’s sprawling save.

Selsey weren’t as wasteful when they got their opportunity. From Hill’s clearance up field Alan Morey helped the ball on to veteran Barry Rishman and he lobbed Dave Tidy with ease to give his side a sixth-minute lead.

The only other genuine goalscoring opportunity in the first half fell to Jon Price after 29 minutes but Tidy tipped his close-range header over the bar.

Wasps badly missed the suspended Ben Burns. Neither Tadman or Leete, who was still suffering from the affects of a virus, could make little impression on a rugged Selsey defence although Tadman’s work rate had to be admired.

The crucial second goal came four minutes into the second half when Green’s ankle appeared to give way as he tried to clear a free-kick and the unmarked Dave Storey stooped to beat Tidy with a glancing header.

Hill was called into action on the hour to block James Horner’s shot, after a cross by Tadman, but the visitors – solid rather than spectacular – made the game safe on 68 minutes as Wasps again failed to deal with a free-kick. Tidy called and came to collect but only succeeded in colliding with Luke Dunstan leaving Rob Brown with a simple tap-in.

There was a late rally from the home side sparked by substitute Matt Garrett but the game was already over as a contest.

“With our strongest side I think we would have beaten them but there’s no excuse for the way we defended on all three goals which was poor,” said Smith.

“We badly missed Ben Burns because he is someone who can hold the ball up and there wasn’t a lot of spark in midfield. We didn’t play well, it’s as simple as that.”

Team: Tidy; Buckingham (sub: Turville 36), Wright, Thorpe, Green (sub: Major 60), Dunstan, Horner, Thompson, Leete (sub: Garrett 72), Tadman, Tilley.

:: Midhurst & Easebourne 0, East Grinstead Town 5 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
LATE FLOURISH AS WASPS HIT FIVE

With Michael Turville dropping out in the morning due to illness and Richard Foyle and Grant Hearn unavailable, Smith brought back Phil Thompson into midfield and drafted in youth teamer Tom Green and Brian Tilley into the defence.

Tilley has only recently returned to the club after working abroad for several years but he did a solid job at leftback in the absence of Hearn and Kevin Wright, who was also on holiday.

Midhurst began brightly with Justin Thorpe prominent in midfield and Dave Tidy was at his best on 24 minutes to turn away a drive from Lewis Hamilton which was heading inside the post.

At the other end Ben Burns curled a free-kick just over from inside the D and Tilley got forward only to blast off target.

After a shaky opening Wasps had got on top and they were determined to make the most of playing down the slope in the second half.

Barry Leete tested the keeper with a shot on 47 minutes and eight minutes later Wasps broke the deadlock. Burns, who is in superb form at the moment, threaded a pass into the path of Matt Thorpe and the midfielder scored his sixth goal of the season with a neat finish.

Smith took off Leete, who had been suffering from a migraine on the morning of the game, with 20 minutes left and his replacement, Matt Garrett, began to worry a tiring defence with his pace and strength.

Burns was furious when he beat the goalkeeper with a chip after 75 minutes and Mayo helped it over the line only to be ruled offside when a goal would have stood had he not touched the ball.

Simon Tadman hit a skimming drive over the top but Wasps’ pressure told with four late goals as Midhurst fell to pieces.

Burns was provider again when his quickly taken free-kick found Garrett who scored his first goal at senior level for Wasps on 84 minutes.

Two minutes later the pair combined again from a corner and Mayo got his second to make it 3-0 and secure the points.

But Wasps hadn’t quite finished. Phil Thompson scored his fifth of the season direct from an inswinging corner on the left and right on time Burns got a deserved goal when he beat two players on the edge of the box before firing home. It was his 12th of the season and seventh in the last six games.

Team: Tidy; Buckingham, Tilley, Thorpe, Green, Dunstan, Horner, Thompson, Leete, Burns, Tadman. Subs (used): Read, Garrett.

:: East Grinstead Town 4, Seaford Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
SECOND-HALF GOALS SINK SEAFORD

The game took a while to get going with neither side creating anything in the first half hour. But it came to life on 38 minutes when Seaford goalkeeper Sean McFadden pulled off a double save, parrying Tadman’s shot before deflecting Burns’ follow-up onto the post.

Seaford’s best first-half effort came when Liam Keith capitalised on a mix-up between Matt Thorpe and goalkeeper Dave Tidy, but Thorpe got back to clear his shot off the line.

The first goal was always going to be crucial and Wasps got it two minutes into the second half.

Horner played a corner to the edge of the six-yard box and Tadman had space to flick the ball past McFadden and inside the far post.

Tidy redeemed himself by blocking Keith’s shot after his poor goal-kick had been interecepted but Wasps always looked capable of scoring again. Tadman and Horner were good outlets on the flanks while defensively Wasps looked a lot more solid than in recent weeks with Michael Turville and youth-teamer Bobby Buckingham impressing.

It was 2-0 after 72 minutes when Tadman shrugged off two defenders as he burst into the box from the right before hammering his shot into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later Grinstead made the game safe. Burns did well to dispossess defender Lewis Wingate and produce an inviting cross to the far post where the unmarked Leete headed in for his 19th goal of the season.

Chris Stanyard profited on a slip by Michael Turville to pull one back in the 82nd minute but there was still time for Burns to get the goal he deserved when he got past two tired Seaford challenges before firing the ball past McFadden and in off the far post.

Team: Tidy; Buckingham, Hearn, Foyle, Turville, Dunstan, Horner, Thorpe, Leete, Burns, Tadman. Subs: Green, Goodwin (both used).

:: Westfield 3, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
DOWN TO 12th AFTER DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT
The green shoots of recovery were showing on Saturday at Westfield when they fought back well after going behind to Lawrence Brand’s powerful header on 31 minutes.

Eight minutes later Steve Major was tripped in the box and although the referee didn’t even book his opponent, even though he was the last defender, Ben Burns scored his tenth goal of the season to level.

Burns had already squandered one good opportunity from a free-kick when he floated over another on the stroke of half-time and Tadman rose to head over the Westfield goalkeeper.

But Wasps lost their way 11 minutes into the second half when Michael Turville, who started his first game since September, spoiled what was a good performance when he lost possession inside his own half and Jones raced through to beat Dave Tidy.

Three minutes later Jones put Westfield in front with a deflected shot during a goalmouth scramble which followed a corner kick.

Moments later all 11 Grinstead players were lined up on the goal-line after the referee ruled that Turville had passed back to Tidy as he sliced a clearance into the goalkeeper’s hands. The kick was eventually blasted wide but both Kevin Wright and Drew Cooney were booked for dissent, clearly frustrated at the referee’s decision to order it to be re-taken twice.

To their credit Wasps kept plugging away and there were several scares late on for the hosts although Wasps had to play for the entire second half without 18-goal top scorer Barry Leete, who left early to attend a family commitment.

Team: Tidy, Buckingham, Cooney, Turville, Wright, Tadman, Hearn, Foyle, Major, Burns, Leete (sub Bell 35mins) – subs not used Green, Smith

:: St Francis Rangers 3, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
EVEN with games in hand and most of their remaining matches at East Court, it’s hard to see Wasps maintaining a promotion challenge after a third league defeat in four on their first visit to St Francis on Saturday.

Manager Bob Smith was without half a side with seven first-teamers absent and his makeshift defence had no answer to Saints’ attacking power in the first half.

The hosts, anxious to avenge their 5-1 hammering at East Court in November, opened up a 3-0 lead and although Wasps fought back in the second half they only had Ben Burns’ late goal to show for their efforts.

Injury robbed Smith of five defenders – Luke Dunstan, Adam Dart, James Ricketts, Chris Day and Tom Green – as well as midfielder Matt Thorpe and Drew Cooney was off the pitch getting treatment for a foot injury when Saints opened the scoring.

Grinstead re-jigged with Bobby Buckingham coming in at right back and Grant Hearn partnering Cooney in the heart of the defence.

Smith dropped top scorer Barry Leete to the bench after some under-par performances but he was pleased with Leete’s reaction and the 17-goal man certainly looked a threat when he came on in the second half.

Burns’s goal was his fourth in three games while defender Michael Turville played first-team football for the first time since September and did well but there weren’t too many other positives for a side who have badly lost their way in the last month.
Smith said: “The injury situation seems to be getting worse and when you are missing so many defenders it is going to make life difficult.

“I was pleased with our response in the second half but St Francis are a strong side, especially at home, and it was always going to be a difficult game.

“Things are tough at the moment but I’m still working hard to freshen things up with a player or two and hopefully soon we will start getting one or two players back to give us competition for places.”

Wasps made the worst possible start when they fell behind after five minutes. Trying to play offside after Saints had cleared a throw in line with their own box by Buckingham, they were unhinged by the pace of one-time Grinstead target Phil Gault who raced clear to score.

Buckingham set up Simon Tadman for Wasps’ first chance after 28 minutes but he was denied by keeper Simon Lehkyj and on the half hour the home side doubled their lead.

Hearn lost possession on the edge of the centre circle and Gault was again left in the clear to produce another clinical finish.

Wasps thought they had conceded a penalty a minute later when the referee pointed to the spot, apparently for a foul by Tidy, but he changed his mind after consulting his assistant.

Kevin Wright fired straight at Lehkyj after good work by Buckingham but on the stroke of half-time it was 3-0 when another ball over the top left the visitors’ defence struggling again and Chris Maynard produced a clinical finish to beat Tidy who was left exposed once again.

The second half was a much more even affair with skirmishes at both ends. The home side hit the bar while Wasps kept plugging away. Their reward came two minutes from time when Burns robbed a defender as he tried to usher the ball out of play and managed to squeeze his shot past Lehkyj for his ninth goal of the season.

Team: Tidy; Buckingham, Wright, Hearn, Cooney; Tadman, Thompson, Foyle, Goodwin; Bell, Burns. Subs (all used): Leete, Upton, Turville.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Pagham 4 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
IT’S one step forward and two back at the moment for Wasps who crashed to their joint-heaviest home defeat of the County League division two campaign on Saturday.

Fresh from last week’s 5-1 win at Storrington, Bob Smith’s men started well and were in front after just three minutes.

But Grinstead flattered to deceive. Pagham took advantage of defensive lapses to lead by half-time and two goals in the last eight minutes rubbed Wasps’ noses in it. The scoreline may have flattered the visitors but they deserved the three points.

The absence of Matt Thorpe and James Ricketts, who is out for six weeks after breaking his finger, necessitated more defensive changes for Smith whose plans suffered another setback when Luke Dunstan limped out of the action after just five minutes with a thigh strain which could rule him out for a month.

But Wasps had already gone in front when Ben Burns scored his third goal in two games direct from a corner on the left which sailed over James Leahy and into the net.

Pagham twice went close when Doug Peach let fly from 25 yards and Brett Forden had a header tipped over the bar by Dave Tidy before they equalised after 22 minutes when Chris Osborne had too much time and space to head Mark Livermore’s cross past Tidy.

The visitors were transformed and although Leahy kept out a drive from Burns it was no surprise when they went ahead just before half-time. Wasps failed to deal with a corner and Sean David had a free header on the line to make it 2-1.

Wasps redoubled their efforts after the break. Kevin Wright had an excellent game down the left and the midfield trio worked hard to try and establish some superiority.

The turning point came after 59 minutes. Burns cracked a free-kick from 20 yards through the wall but Leahy somehow flung himself across goal to palm the ball over. There won’t be a better save than that at East Court all season.

Burns had another chance nine minutes later but he headed Wright’s cross over the bar and with ten minutes left Burns teed up Simon Tadman but Leahy kept out his powerful drive.

Two minutes later, though, Wasps’ defensive frailty was exposed again, this time by Brett Forden who had too much time to cut in and fire a rising shot past the helpless Tidy.

And in injury time Rob Wimble, whose partnership with Forden troubled Grinstead throughout, got in behind the defence before unselfishly squaring the ball to midfielder Peach who rolled it into an empty net.

Smith said: “For the first 20 minutes we carried on from the previous week and looked like we would get a second goal.

“But we defended poorly at set pieces to concede two bad goals and when their goalkeeper saved Ben’s free-kick I think the players sensed it was going to be one of those days.

“After such a good result the previous week it was a big setback. Losing Luke is another blow but we just have to get on with it. I thought Kevin and Ben were our best players but one or two others need to look at their performances and ask themselves if they can do better.”

Team: Tidy; Dunstan (sub: Green 5), Wright, Thompson, Cooney, Brockbank (sub: Major 75), Tadman, Hearn, Leete (sub: Bell 85), Burns, Foyle.

:: Storrington 1, East Grinstead Town 5 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS bounced back in style after three successive defeats to re-ignite their promotion challenge on Saturday.

All five Grinstead goals came in an amazing first half as Bob Smith’s decision to revert back to a 4-3-3 formation yielded a handsome dividend as Wasps completed the double over their County League division two opponents.

Smith made several changes after Grinstead had failed to score and conceded 11 goals in their previous three games and they worked a treat.

Matt Thorpe switched to rightback, Richard Foyle and Grant Hearn were surprisingly paired together in central midfield and Simon Tadman was pushed back up front alongside Barry Leete with Ben Burns just in behind the strikers.

Storrington did pull a goal back in the second half and also hit the bar but it was mere consolation for the home side who had plenty of possession but were picked off by Grinstead’s counter-attacks before the break.

Wasps hadn’t scored a goal of their own since December 10 but within ten minutes they had raced into a 2-0 lead.

Burns gave them a seventh-minute lead, curling in a free-kick from the edge of the box after Tadman was fouled.

It was just the start Wasps wanted and it got better. Leete fed leftback Kevin Wright and his cross to the far post was converted by Leete for his 17th of the season and a rare header.

Storrington were already having to commit more players forward in search of the goal which might get them back into the game. But Wasps were solid defensively and Foyle produced some eye-catching work in midfield where he broke up numerous attacks.

Smith might have accidentally stumbled upon a decent midfield pair but he wasn’t complaining and neither were his team after they opened up a 3-0 lead on 28 minutes with an outstanding team goal.

Phil Thompson, Thorpe and Foyle were all involved in a sweeping build-up and Leete provided the assist, turning Foyle’s cross back into the path of Burns who side-stepped his marker before picking his spot.

Shell-shocked Storrington then conceded two more in as many minutes just before half-time. A home defender headed Wright’s corner past his own goalkeeper and on the stroke of half-time it was 5-0 when Thompson found the top corner with a powerful drive from 25 yards.

The second half was academic although Storrington, to their credit, never gave up the ghost and Dan Griffin pulled one back with a shot on 57 minutes which took a big deflection off Wright and beat Dave Tidy.

The big home No.9 also hit the bar with a header but Leete, Tadman and Thompson all had opportunities to extend the winning margin.

Smith said: “We were excellent, particularly in the first half. Defensively we looked solid, I thought the lads in midfield worked really hard and the way we set up the team meant we were always a threat on the break.”

Team: Tidy; Thorpe, Wright, Thompson, Cooney, Ricketts, Tadman, Foyle, Leete, Burns, Hearn. Subs (used): Green, Bell.

:: Mile Oak 4, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
FIRST HALF HORROR SHOW

Wasps’ preparations were hardly ideal. Adam Dart (thigh) and Chris Day, who could be out for a while after injuring his ankle in the 3-0 defeat by Oakwood on Tuesday, were already missing and James Ricketts pulled out in the morning through illness. Then Luke Dunstan suffered a recurrence of his thigh problem in the warm-up and Tom Green had to be drafted in off the bench.

The first 20 minutes or so were fairly even but then the roof fell in on the visitors.

In the 25th minute, Cooney was penalised for shirt-pulling in the box and Paul Eaton made it 1-0 from the penalty spot.

There was a stroke of luck about Oak’s second as Jamie Ash's drive from outside the box took a big deflection off Drew Cooney to leave goalkeeper Dave Tidy helpless on 30 minutes.

Then two goals in two minutes just before half-time effectively put the hosts into the last four.

Green attempted a header back to his keeper which Tidy had to stretch to parry and prevent it sailing over his head and Clive Jackson slotted the ball into an empty net. Clive Jackson scored his second in as many minutes when he punished more bad marking by a shell-shocked Grinstead to rifle in No.4 on the stroke of half-time.

Although the game was effectively over Wasps restored some pride with a much better second-half performance, but Smith will have been concerned that his side barely created a chance of note.

To complete a depressing afternoon, midfielder Phil Thompson played on with a broken nose after he was hit by a stray elbow in the first half but the referee didn’t see the incident so could take no action.

Youngsters Steve Major, who started his second game on the left-hand side of midfield, and substitute Jez Tobin, who came on in the second half, offer hope of a brighter long-term future but Smith knows major surgery is needed now to get Grinstead’s season on track. Defender Scott Harrison made his first-team debut as a second-half substitute.

Team: Tidy; Hearn, Wright, Thorpe, Green, Cooney, Tadman, Thompson, Leete, Burns, Major. Subs (both used): Harrison, Tobin.

:: East Grinstead Town 0, Oakwood 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS’ promotion hopes suffered another setback with a second successive defeat against an impressive Oakwood side at East Court on Tuesday night.

The visitors scored three second-half goals to claim a ninth successive win which put them back at the top of County League division two and on course for a return to the top flight.

Grinstead remain on the fringes of the promotion race but there were some positives for boss Bob Smith whose side were much more committed after their limp display against Crawley Down on Boxing Day when they lost by the same scoreline.

For the first half hour Grinstead were marginally the better side and should have gone in front on 23 minutes when Ben Burns’ inviting cross from the left found top scorer Barry Leete but he could only direct the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box.

Adam Dart tested former Wasps’ goalkeeper Scott Kenward with two powerful drives from outside the box but Dart was less of an influence as the game wore on because of a thigh problem while defender Chris Day limped off after just five minutes with what looks like a bad ankle injury.

Kenward denied Burns at full stretch but Oakwood gradually got on top and Simon Funnell hit the bar and missed two other chances before half-time as his partnership with Pat Dunning began to cause the home defence problems.

It was no surprise when Oakwood broke the deadlock on 61 minutes when Funnell set up Dunning who beat Dave Tidy from 12 yards with a low shot inside the right-hand post.

Dunning got the crucial second goal 15 minutes later, cutting in from the left before firing past a helpless Tidy and Funnell found space to beat Tidy with an excellent curling effort two minutes from time to make it 3-0.

Wasps rallied late on with Drew Cooney hitting the outside of the post and Ben Burns seeing his close-range shot blocked by a defender.

Smith gave a full debut to Steve Major on the left-hand side of midfield and introduced 17-year-old striker Jez Tobin for the last 15 minutes and their lively performances will have encouraged him.

: Tidy; Hearn (sub: Tobin 76), Wright, Thorpe, Day (sub: Ricketts 5), Cooney, Tadman, Dart, Leete, Burns, Major (sub: Thompson 72).

:: Crawley Down 3, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Simon Tadman outpaces a determined Eddie Thompson BOSS Bob Smith had no complaints after we were well beaten 3-0 by Crawley Down in the Boxing Day derby at the Haven.

Wasps were sunk by Nick Sullivan's well-taken hat-trick and Smith admitted that too many of his players had an off day.

"We were very poor," he said, "Although I don't want to take anything away from Crawley Down because they thoroughly deserved to win. "Offensively we didn't cause them enough problems but I've been waiting for his sort of result to happen because in recent weeks we've won games against weaker teams without looking that convincing.

"I hope it's the kick up the backside we need."

Adam Dart and Kevin Wright returned after suspension and injury respectively and their steady performances were the only plusses for Grinstead.

Team: Tidy; Hearn, Wright, Dunstan, Day; Thorpe, Cooney, Tadman, Burns, Dart; Leete. Subs (used): Major, Buckingham, Goodwin. Unused sub: Foyle.

:: Bexhill United 0, East Grinstead Town 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
OGGIES SETTLE IT AT A PARKY POLEGROVE

Smith made one change to the team which had beaten Westfield the previous week at the Polegrove with Grant Hearn replacing Richard Foyle at left back.

In truth Dave Tidy had his quietest afternoon of the season in Grinstead’s goal with what chances that were created being made by the visitors although clear-cut openings were relatively rare.

A freezing wind and bobbly, hard pitch made decent football difficult but Drew Cooney twice fired wide from good positions in the opening 20 minutes, his second effort deflecting off a rebound with Ben Burns unable to snap up the half-chance.

But the deadlock was broken in the 26th minute when Phil Thompson’s right-wing cross was turned into his own net by a Bexhill defender under pressure from Burns.

Top scorer Barry Leete had a sight of goal just before the break but shot straight at the goalkeeper but Wasps doubled their lead straight after the break in almost identical fashion to the first goal, the only difference was that Simon Tadman pressurised a defender into turning Thompson’s cross past his own goalkeeper.

The second half, like most of the first, was a non-event but Wasps had collected a fourth successive league win and sixth in their last seven games.

But Smith knows that the sterner tests which lie ahead will shape the second half of their season.

Team: Tidy; Brockbank, Hearn, Ricketts, Dunstan; Thompson, Thorpe, Burns, Cooney; Tadman, Leete. Subs (all used): Buckingham, Major, Green.

:: Westfield 2, East Grinstead Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
Wasps’ best chance in a disappointing first half came when midfielder Phil Thompson cracked a shot against the bar but Simon Tadman couldn’t force the rebound into the net.

But the visitors were ahead after 55 minutes. Ben Burns’ pass into Leete was controlled with his back to goal and he then turned to fire a low shot into the corner of the net.

Westfield were more of a threat as the game wore on although it was a slip by fullback Richard Foyle which allowed them to equalise 20 minutes from time. The left-wing cross picked out Lawrence Brand at the far post for a header which gave Tidy no chance.

Grinstead regained the lead in the second half of extra time when Thompson’s diagonal ball set Leete free ahead of a tiring defence and he found the bottom corner with a well-struck shot with the outside of his boot.

Leete then turned provider with five minutes to go when he got to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Tadman to sweep in his eighth of the season.

There was still time for Westfield to pull one back from a free-kick awarded against Matt Thorpe for a foul which took a deflection on its way past Tidy, but Wasps were through to the last eight.

Team: Tidy; Brockbank, Foyle, Thorpe, Ricketts, Dunstan, Tadman, Thompson, Leete, Burns (sub: Goodwin 90), Cooney.

:: East Grinstead Town 0, Bognor Regis Town 7 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
THE gulf between Nationwide Conference south and County League division two was all too evident at East Court on Tuesday as Wasps were shown little mercy by Bognor in the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup.

The visitors' superior movement, on and off the ball, and finishing skills overwhelmed Grinstead at times, but home boss Bob Smith was still able to take some positives despite the scoreline.

Bognor benefitted from two generous penalty decisions and the outcome could have been a lot different had top scorer Barry Leete not wasted a great chance in the first minute when he broke clear but could only fire straight at Bognor 'keeper Chris May.

It was the wake-up call Bognor needed and they were ahead on 13 minutes when Grinstead could only clear a free-kick as far as Darren Budd who found the top left-hand corner with a powerful shot from 20 yards.

Two minutes later Ben Watson punished hesitation by goalkeeper Dave Tidy to make it 2-0 and from then on it was always a case of damage limitation for Smith's men.

They worked hard and for the next 20 minutes held their own but Bognor got a third on 35 minutes when Drew Cooney was adjudged to have brought down Watson just inside the box. As Bognor prepared to take a corner, they were as surprised as the hosts when referee Warren Aktin pointed to the spot and Watson calmly sent Tidy the wrong way.

The Brighton youngster had completed his hat-trick before half-time with a free header to make it 4-0 and Bognor added three more goals in the second half.

Dan Beck lobbed a neat fifth (59 minutes), Watson had a tap-in from Richard Hudson's cross (76) and Hudson scored from the spot with 11 minutes left after a harsh handball against Grant Hearn.

Leete twice worked May in the closing stages but Wasps were even denied a consolation their efforts deserved. Smith said: "I thought both penalties were dubious but it wouldn't have made a lot of difference. Their movement, determination and clinical finishing were a lesson for us, it was great to watch. If we can learn from the experience, especially our younger players, it can only be a benefit."

Bognor's long-serving boss Jack Pearce was fulsome in his praise for Grinstead. "Every one of them were a credit to themselves and their club. They tried to play football, they never resorted to trying to kick lumps out of us. Their spirit and attitude was superb."

Team: Tidy; Foyle, Hearn, Ricketts (sub: Buckingham 70), Dunstan; Thorpe, Brockbank, Cooney, Burns (sub: Major 79); Leete, Tadman (sub: Bell 83). Unused subs: Horner, Whibley (gk).

Attendance: 133.

:: East Grinstead Town 1, Worthing United 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
THERE were no complaints from boss Bob Smith after Grinstead were knocked out of the County League Cup by first division United on Saturday.

The visitors were 3-0 up when Simon Tadman rewarded an improved performance by Wasps in the last 25 minutes with a consolation two minutes from time.

But we never recovered from a bad start during which they struggled to cope with Worthing’s three-pronged attack and found themselves two goals down after 27 minutes.

Bob said: “We’d won our previous four games and it would have been nice to have kept the run going but they were better than us. Physically we struggled a bit, too many players didn’t get involved enough and it was only in the last third of the match that we played as well as we can.”

With Ben Brockbank and Adam Dart suspended and Drew Cooney resting a nagging ankle injury, Smith – who watched from the stands while he serves a two-match touchline ban – had to forego the 4-3-3 formation which has served Wasps so well in recent weeks.

And it was only when he reverted back to it in the last half hour that Wasps carved out chances, but by then the tie was all but over.

United got the perfect start when Shane Moses belted them into a sixth-minute lead with a powerful drive from the edge of the box which gave ‘keeper Dave Tidy no chance.

It was no surprise when the experienced Gavin Geddes profited from some sloppy defending to find space and slot the ball past Tidy to make it 2-0 on 27 minutes.

Apart from an off-target header by Barry Leete, the home side made little impression in the first half and any hopes of a fightback were ended two minutes after the break when a motionless Tidy could only watch and admire as Moses rattled in a 20-yard drive after he’d been given too much space on the edge of the box.

It could have been worse. Geddes hit the post on 54 minutes with Tidy well beaten and Andy Turner volleyed against an upright with 15 minutes to go.

But at least by then Wasps were starting to carry a bit more of an attacking threat. Simon Tadman and Matt Thorpe wasted excellent openings and Dean Fuller kept out Thorpe’s low drive before Ben Burns’ free-kick from the right was headed in by Tadman for his eighth goal of the season.

Team: Tidy, Foyle, Hearn, Thompson, Day, Dunstan, Tadman, Thorpe, Leete (sub: Major 83), Bell (sub: Buckingham 62), Burns.

:: Lancing 1, East Grinstead Town 3 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS have developed the happy knack of winning without playing well and it is a habit that could stand them in good stead as our promotion bid gathers momentum.

We were seldom at their best, particularly in the first half, at Culver Road on Saturday but still managed to record a fourth successive win.

Unexpected defeats for Selsey and St Francis Rangers elsewhere have opened up the second division promotion race which Grinstead are very much involved in after a third league victory in a row.

Bob Smith had to make one change to the team which had beaten Midhurst. Adam Dart started a five-week suspension for his red card at Seaford last month and was replaced by Drew Cooney and it was Cooney who gave Wasps a 14th-minute lead.

The goal was created by fullback Richard Foyle who made tracks down the right and when his cross was only partially cleared, Cooney took aim from 20 yards after sidestepping a defender and drove his left-foot shot beyond goalkeeper Jamie Anderson.

But Wasps were lucky to hold onto their lead at half-time. Adam Burton, back at Culver Road after a spell with first division Wick, always carried a threat up front but he was twice denied by Dave Tidy, who showed all his experience behind a defence which often looked unsure of itself against an inventive home side.

Wasps regrouped during the interval and looked more purposeful at the start of the second half, doubling their lead after 59 minutes with a goal involving their three strikers.

Adrian Bell won the ball back off a defender after initially conceding possession and found Simon Tadman whose first-time pass gave Barry Leete the chance to beat Anderson from close range for his 14th goal of the season.

Burton gave Lancing hope ten minutes later when he pulled one back with a neat finish after some hesitant defending and at that stage Lancing looked capable of salvaging a point.

But Ben Burns came off the bench to make the points safe 11 minutes from time. Phil Thompson’s diagonal ball should have been claimed by Anderson but he hesitated and Burnsy nipped in to score his fifth of the season.

Bob was delighted with another three points and pleased that his side, who have scored 18 goals in their last five games, are making the most of their goalscoring opportunities.

“That’s the big difference from division one. You get more chances at this level and we have players who can stick them away, it made the difference on Saturday,” he said.

“Lancing are a good side despite what the league table says and they will upset teams this season. We were as poor as we’ve been for a while in the first half but then we dug in and I was really pleased how we battled to get a result, there is a good spirit among the side.”

Team: Tidy; Foyle, Hearn, Day, Dunstan; Thompson, Cooney, Brockbank; Leete, Tadman, Bell. Subs (both used): Major, Burns.

:: East Grinstead Town 4, Midhurst & Easebourne 2 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
MANAGER Bob Smith was full of praise for his strikers after Grinstead’s goal blitz continued with a hard-fought County League win over Midhurst at East Court on Saturday.

Front men Barry Leete, Simon Tadman and Adrian Bell all scored as Wasps made it 16 goals in four games, the last three of which have been won.

Victory moved us up to sixth in the second division table and we are handily placed to mount a challenge to the top three, two of whom dropped points on Saturday.

Bob said: “It was a good three points against a side that will cause problems this season. The difference was the pace and movement of our front three. Their mobility is going to give teams problems.”

It looked like being a comfortable afternoon for Grinstead against a side who had won their previous four matches when they opened up a 3-0 lead after 44 minutes.

Midhurst began brightly and it was only when Wasps got to grips with midfielder Justin Thorpe, who was having a big influence on proceedings, that the tide began to turn.

Adrian 'Jingles' Bell opens the scoringThey went in front after 19 minutes. Ben Brockbank knocked Tadman’s corner back across the face of goal and Bell made it two in two with a neat finish past Stuart Burt in the visitors’ goal.

Adam Dart had a goal disallowed for handball but Wasps doubled their lead in the 36th minute. Leete rode two challenges before squaring the ball to Tadman whose powerful finish gave Burt no chance.

Bell missed a decent chance two minutes later after good work by Richard Foyle but it was 3-0 on 44 minutes. Midhurst failed to deal with Luke Dunstan’s free-kick and Dart was able to round Burt easily and slot home.

It all looked so easy, but Midhurst got themselves back in the game with two goals in three minutes either side of half-time.

Fullback James Renshall got on the end of Thorpe’s cross to head in their first just before the break and Midhurst were awarded a penalty two minutes into the second half when referee Ian Butler ruled that Foyle had brought down James Glue. It looked a tight decision but Shane Brayson wasn’t complaining as he gave Dave Tidy, who was making his 200th Grinstead appearance, no chance from the spot.

The complexion of the game had changed but Wasps dug in and were soon creating good chances again. Darren Hotston blocked Phil Thompson’s drive on the line, Leete broke clear but fired wide of the far post while the introduction of Matt Thorpe helped stiffen their defensive resolve.

They made the game safe in the last minute when Leete rode two tired challenges and poked the ball past Burt. It rebounded off both posts before Wasps’ top scorer could celebrate his 13th goal of the season.

Team: Tidy; Foyle, Hearn, Day, Dunstan; Brockbank, Thompson, Dart; Bell (sub: Burns 85), Tadman (sub: Thorpe 73), Leete. Unused sub: Green.

:: Steyning Town 2, East Grinstead Town 4 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
TEN MEN FIGHT BACK FOR VICTORY

TEN-MAN Wasps showed bags of spirit and determination to come from behind and collect three important County League points at the Shooting Field on Saturday.

Grinstead, missing four first-team regulars, were well worth their 1-0 half-time lead but the game seemed to be slipping from their grasp early in the second half.

Centre-half Chris Day brought down Simon Price when he got clear on goal and was shown a straight red by referee Paul Gale. To make matters worse, Price equalised from the resultant free-kick and Steyning went ahead midway through the second half.

But Barry Leete levelled almost straight away and scored his second – and 12th of the season – and made a debut goal for fellow striker Adrian Bell as Wasps showed loads of character.

Boss Bob Smith was thrilled with his team’s performance. “The effort, commitment and character shown by every player was tremendous, I couldn’t fault anyone’s performance.

“If I had to pick out individuals Ben Brockbank did a great job in midfield and Barry’s pace up front caused them all sorts of problems but it really was a good team effort.”

With Matt Thorpe – who scored a hat-trick in the midweek Senior Cup win over St Francis – and Luke Dunstan unavailable and Adam Dart and Kevin Wright injured, Smith had to re-shuffle his side but they settled quickly and dominated the first half.

The breakthrough came after 28 minutes when Simon Tadman picked out Phil Thompson on the edge of the penalty area from a corner and Thompson cracked a low left-foot shot inside the post, giving home goalkeeper Dave Kennett no chance.

Bell and Leete linked up well and Drew Cooney twice went close but it was a different story after the break as Steyning began to exert some pressure.

They were level on 48 minutes. Richard Foyle’s defensive header lacked sufficient power, Price got ahead of Day and as he bore down on goal the Grinstead defender hauled him back. Price stayed on his feet, rounded Dave Tidy and scored but the referee pulled play back, sent off Day and from the free-kick, Tidy was beaten by Price’s curling effort inside the left-hand post.

Wasps re-shuffled with Cooney moving into the heart of the defence but the home side went ahead after 67 minutes. Daryl Hunter – their best player on the day – ran directly at a retreating defence before slipping the ball to Greg Hearne whose low drive gave Tidy no chance.

But Grinstead produced the perfect response to level within a minute. Thompson clipped a good ball into space down the right, Bell chipped it over a defender into the path of Leete and he finished superbly to make it 2-2.

That was the decisive moment. Even with ten men, Grinstead were transformed and they went in front after 77 minutes. Leete again found space down the right and his cross to the far post was met by Bell whose firm header was only helped into the net by Kennett.

There was one scare for Wasps when Stuart Anderson got clear on goal but pulled up with a hamstring injury just as he was about to shoot.

But Grinstead battened down the hatches before breaking away to make it 4-2 with a minute left when Leete again got in behind a tired defence to round Kennett and tap in his 12th of the campaign.

Team: Tidy; Foyle, Hearn, Thompson, Day, Green, Tadman, Cooney, Leete, Bell, Brockbank. Subs (both used): Major, Alexander.

:: East Grinstead Town 5, St Francis Rangers 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS produced the perfect response to Saturday’s disappointing FA Vase exit by thrashing their league rivals to reach the last 16 of the Sussex Senior Cup.

Boss Bob Smith’s birthday celebrations were made even more special as midfielder Matt Thorpe helped himself to a hat-trick as the home side ran riot in the second half of Tuesday night’s second round tie.

On their first visit to East Court the visitors, beaten just once in the league this season, made a bright start and Will Barnes flashed a free header wide with the best of their early chances.

But Grinstead gradually warmed to their task and there was a hint of what was to come when Barry Leete broke clear of a static defence and although Simon Lehkyj saved his shot, Thorpe swept home the loose ball to put Wasps in front.

The lead lasted just three minutes with Mark Enticknap equalising on 40 minutes with a powerful drive from 25 yards which gave Dave Tidy no chance.

It was no more than the visitors deserved but the second half was a different story as Wasps exploited a vulnerable visitors’ defence on countless occasions.

Leete and Thorpe had already gone close when the pressure finally told. Phil Thompson’s 63rd-minute pass pass put Simon Tadman through on the left and he swept a right-foot shot from 15 yards inside the far post.

Tidy ensured parity with a great double save to deny Sam Jeremiah and Enticknap but the force was with Grinstead and Leete scored his 10th of the season with a lob from the edge of the box after 74 minutes.

Five minutes later came the goal of the night. Tadman left two defenders in his wake in a burst down the left and his cross was met by Thorpe whose diving header at the far post gave Lehkyj no chance.

Two minutes later Leete rode two challenges to set up Thorpe who had time to take a touch in the six-yard box before volleying home to complete his hat-trick. Only a brave save by Lehkyj denied him a fourth goal near the end.

Team: Tidy; Foyle, Hearn, Day, Dunstan; Thorpe, Cooney (sub: Bell 88), Thompson, Dart (sub: Brockbank 26); Leete, Tadman. Unused subs: Whibley, Green, Major.

:: East Grinstead Town 3, Rye & Iden United 5 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS crashed out of the FA Vase after an astonishing finale at East Court on Saturday when their first division opponents scored four goals in the last six minutes to leave the home side in a state of shock.

Bob Smith’s men looked to be heading for the second round of the national competition for only the second time in their history when Matt Thorpe’s well taken goal made it 3-1 with 12 minutes remaining.

But Bob was forced to bring off skipper Drew Cooney and top scorer Barry Leete and Grinstead totally lost their way in the last ten minutes.

Colin Johnson made it 3-2 after 87 minutes when he made space in the box to beat Dave Tidy with an excellent right-foot finish, although the ease with which he picked his way through some tired challenges should have been a hint of what was to come.

Two minutes later Tom Cusdon curled a brilliant free-kick from 20 yards into the top right-hand corner to level the scores. It was a quality set piece but Rye weren’t finished there.

With Grinstead all over the place at the back, Johnson’s low left-foot cross eluded several tired defenders and Stuart Playford swept the ball home from three yards to make it 4-3.

And with the last kick of the game substitute Jon Bradley completed Rye’s comeback when his shot from 30 yards flew into the top corner with Tidy a spectator.

A shell-shocked Smith, as well as the home fans, couldn’t quite believe what they had seen.

He said: “People will say the changes late on affected us but I had no choice. Drew was struggling fitness-wise and was completely knackered and Barry had to come off because of injury.

“We just looked dead on our feet when they scored their second. But the 11 players we had out there should have been able to see the game out at 3-1 with ten minutes left.”

Smith was furious about the two first half penalty incidents – one given and one not – which he felt were also turning points.

Wasps appeared to have been hard done by when Simon Tadman was sent sprawling by James Simms only for referee Baker waved play on. Moments later Chris Day was penalised for shirt-pulling and Cusdon beat Tidy to make it 2-1.

Rye could have equalised in the second half as Wasps sat deeper and deeper with Johnson squandering two great chances.

But on the break Wasps were still a threat. Substitute Steve Major’s lob dropped the wrong side of the post but the game appeared to have been won when Leete and Thorpe exchanged passes and Thorpe drove into the box from the right and fired a low shot through goalkeeper Jon Gardener’s legs to make it 3-1.

Job done, or so the home fans thought, but once Rye had got their second the confidence seemed to drain out of the home side.

Yet things had started so well. Leete had already missed a good chance when he ended a four-match goal drought with his ninth goal of the season, tucked away from close range after Kevin Wright’s strong run and unselfish pass across the face of goal.

That came on 17 minutes and eight minutes later it was 2-0, Simon Tadman lobbing Gardener after Adam Dart’s pass had opened up the home defence.

Wasps certainly lost some of their attacking momentum after Cusdon’s 33rd minute penalty halved Rye’s arrears but it was nothing compared to the way they fell to pieces in those amazing last six minutes.

Smith added:“It’s hugely disappointing because for 80 minutes we played well and deserved to be in front. There were a lot of positives – the performance of Adam Dart in midfield and Drew’s return and we always looked a threat up front.”

Team: Tidy, Hearn, Wright (sub: Major 67), Thorpe, Day, Dunstan, Cooney (sub: Lynn 82), Dart, Leete (sub: Green 82), Tadman, Thompson.

:: Sidlesham 1, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS suffered more disappointment on the ground where they lost their first division status on the final day of last season with defeat in a scrappy league encounter on Saturday.

Our fourth league defeat of the season left us five points adrift of the top three in Division Two and manager Bob Smith acknowledged we will have to improve if we are to mount a sustained challenge for promotion.

The home side won it when Mark Wozniak fired a low shot from the edge of the box through a crowd of players and inside the right-hand post with 16 minutes remaining.

Sidlesham belied their lowly league position with a battling display and their front two Ryan Secombe and Jamie Clayton were a constant handful.

Wasps had plenty of possession, particularly in the second half, but for the second game running they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

Bob said: “I thought we did more than enough to get something out of the game. It was always going to take a quality strike to breach our defence and Sidlesham got one.

“We look a lot better in games when we score the first goal because it helps settle us down, I don’t think we’ve won by coming from behind yet. Until we score we tend to be a bit tentative and look for one pass too many. It’s a setback, but we can’t afford to dwell on it.” Smith gave a debut to defender Chris Day and he got better as the game wore on with Grant Hearn pushing into midfield. But it was only when Hearn swapped positions with rightback Matt Thorpe in the second period that Grinstead began to make some headway in the final third and looked better balanced.

The first half had been a catalogue of mis-placed passes from both sides although a terrible surface was hardly conducive to good football.

Secombe forced Tidy to save with his legs when he got through just before half-time but that was the only serious work the Grinstead keeper had to do. At the other end, Ben Burns was a yard wide with his shot after Simon Tadman set him up but in truth neither side posed too much of a threat.

There was more urgency from both teams in the second period and a few more chances.

Simon Hounsome’s speculative effort from 25 yards clipped the top of Tidy’s bar after 47 minutes then Dave Gellatly volleyed into the side netting from Tadman’s cross during the visitors’ best spell.

Wasps’ best move led to their best chance on 66 minutes. Adam Dart, who was outstanding in midfield, combined with Burns to cross from the right but top scorer Barry Leete directed a free-header from eight yards over the bar when anything on target would surely have beaten Lee Arnell in the home goal.

Arnell then got down at full stretch to deny substitute Andy Goodwin but moments later Wozniak’s sweetly-struck shot broke the deadlock.

Wasps committed more men to attack in the search for an equalizer but Sidlesham defended heroically at times and Arnell was only extended once more when he got down to keep out a half-volley from Steve Major two minutes from time.

Team: Tidy; Thorpe, Dunstan, Day, Wright; Dart, Gellatly, Hearn (sub: Goodwin 70), Burns (sub: Major 86); Tadman, Leete.

:: Seaford Town 3, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
THE RUR Cup has been good to us in recent years. We won the trophy 18 months ago and reached the semi-final last season, but there will be no glory run this time.

Wasps bowed out at the second round stage as a combination of sloppy defending and poor finishing meant there was never much chance that they could make it four successive wins in league and cup.

To make matters worse, midfielder Adam Dart got a straight red card for a mis-timed challenge in the second half and manager Bob Smith, frustrated by a pedantic referee, got himself sent from the dugout for comments to Mr Lyons, also in the second half.

Bob wisely decided to keep his own counsel when asked to comment on the referee’s performance. The Sussex FA are cracking down on comments made about officials in newspapers and on websites, although there was no disguising his disappointment at events.

The players have worked hard to improve their disciplinary record and Dart’s dismissal was the first by a Grinstead player this season and if Mr Lyons had seen the incident again he would have noted that although it was a two-footed challenge Dart clearly got the ball and his opponent was able to get up a few seconds later. Unfortunately, TV replays aren’t available in the Sussex County League just yet!

With Seaford already 3-0 up, Adam's dismissal deep into the second half had little effect on the outcome. What scuppered Wasps - who were unchanged from the side which beat Saltdean in their previous game - was their failure to make more of an excellent first 20 minutes which left even Seaford boss Duncan Kneller impressed as the visitors zipped the ball about on the sloping Crouch pitch.

But there was no end product with a lot of attacks foundering on the edge of the box. The area between the strikers and midfield players was often too condensed and when Seaford, who’d also won their previous three matches, realised that Wasps were creaky themselves at the back they capitalized with three goals before half-time.

Chris Stanyard had far too much space to release Tristan Jobe and the lively striker gave Dave Tidy no chance to open the scoring on 29 minutes.

Six minutes later Jobe struck again with his eighth of the season. Ben Burns lost possession in his own half, Wasps tried to play offside but Jobe sprung the trap and again beat Tidy.

Wasps couldn’t believe what had hit them but there was worse to come as Luke Wingate got across Phil Thompson in the six-yard box to head home a corner on the stroke of half-time.

The second half was all about trying to restore a bit of pride. Smith brought on all three subs with two youth teamers, Scott Johnston and Steve Major, getting their first taste of senior football.

But Mr Lyons seemed intent on disrupting the flow of the game by awarding a succession of free-kicks and when Dart committed what was a bad foul in front of the Seaford dugout the outcome was predictable enough – even though it was the first time he’d reached for his cards all afternoon.

Ben Burns got a consolation tap-in from Major’s left-wing cross three minutes from time but the damage had already been done.

Bob said: “It wasn’t a good day what with one thing and another. The goals we conceded were terrible from a defensive point of view, really sloppy. And all this after we’d started so well.

“We did a lot better in the second half but not a lot was happening up front if I’m honest. It was a shame for Adam because he’s done really well since he took up the new role in front of the back four. As for the challenge, I’m not even sure the referee saw it.”

Team: Tidy; Thorpe, Wright, Dunstan, Hearn; Thompson, Dart, Gellatly; Tadman; Burns, Leete. Subs (all used): Green, Johnston, S.Major.

:: Saltdean Utd 0, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
ONLY the goals which reflected their superiority were missing as Wasps continued their climb up the league table at Hill Park on Saturday.

Bob Smith’s side are up to fifth in Division Two after recording their third successive win in a game they dominated for long stages.

The fact that they only had Simon Tadman’s first-half goal to show for their efforts was due to some wayward finishing and good goalkeeping by Saltdean’s Carl Smeaton. Apart from three saves in the first half, Dave Tidy had little to do that wasn’t routine at the other end.

Smith said: “I thought it was a good performance throughout the side. We created chances, looked threatening when we went forward and were solid at the back. It was as comfortable a 1-0 you could get and another win keeps the confidence up.”

Smith has identified the need to improve Wasps’ away form if they are to mount a challenge for promotion back to Division One and this first win on the road since the opening day was a welcome boost.

A bumpy pitch was in stark contrast to the lush surface Grinstead players have enjoyed at East Court but in the first half at least, with both teams committed to attack, there was no lack of entertainment.

Wasps might have scored in the third minute when Smeaton made two great saves from Ben Burns’ half-volley from 20 yards and Barry Leete’s close range follow-up.

Saltdean responded and Tidy pushed out Craig Bunch’s volley and then got down well to turn away a drive from Stuart Clarke which was heading inside the near post.

Saltdean’s wingbacks never really got in behind Grinstead’s defence after that and the chances came thick and fast at the other end as skipper Dave Gellatly and Adam Dart regularly found their forwards with accurate passes from midfield.

Gellatly and Burns were both denied before Burns’ free-kick from the left-hand corner was headed in at close range by Tadman who stole in ahead of his marker to score his fourth goal of the season.

The only surprise for the remainder of the first half was that Wasps didn’t add to their lead. Burns could easily have had a hat-trick, his best effort a half-volley which crashed back out off the crossbar.

Tidy caused some self-inflicted problems when he handled a back-pass in the six yard box but recovered to save Ian Costello’s shot from the resultant free-kick.

Before the break Smeaton kept out Phil Thompson’s shot with his legs and although the second half was a much quieter affair Wasps always looked the more threatening outfit with Thomspon, Gellatly and Leete missing chances to make the game safe.

Thompson limped off late on with an injury and it was only in the last ten minutes that Wasps settled for what they had. Even then Saltdean rarely threatened a defence boosted by the return of Grant Hearn.

Team: Tidy; Thorpe, Wright, Hearn, Dunstan; Thompson (sub: Green 80), Dart, Gellatly; Burns (sub: Goodwin 78); Leete, Tadman.

:: East Grinstead Town 3, Lancing 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS are through to the first round proper of the FA Vase for only the second time since 1988 after getting the better of a spirited Lancing team at East Court on Saturday.
It wasn’t until Dave Gellatly made it 3-1 with seven minutes left that Grinstead could relax although they squandered enough chances to have won more comfortably.
Manager Bob Smith had the luxury of fielding an unchanged starting line-up for the first time since February and at times we played some good stuff on a superb pitch which encourages a passing game.
But there were one or two scares in the second half after Richard Carter’s 53rd-minute free-kick had halved Lancing’s deficit.
Wasps dominated from the start, switching play from one flank to the other as they probed for an opening.
Lancing goalkeeper Mike Wright made two excellent saves to deny Gellatly and top scorer Barry Leete while Ben Burns’ saw his effort cleared off the line by Dan Poulter and Simon Tadman blasted over from six yards.
But the breakthrough finally arrived on 42 minutes. Leete’s cross was only half-cleared to Burns 15 yards from goal and his precise side-foot shot flew past Wright.
Two minutes later it was 2-0. Tadman’s corner was only cleared to the edge of the box and Wright was left with no chance from Phil Thompson’s volley.
Wright kept out Burns’ low drive six minutes after the break but Lancing, who’d offered little attacking threat until then, were back in the game on 53 minutes. Luke Dunstan gave away a free-kick 20 yards out and Richard Carter curled it around the wall and past Dave Tidy.
Lancing enjoyed their best spell without creating too much in terms of clear-cut chances and in the closing 15 minutes Wasps got back on top.
Walker tipped a shot from Tadman round the post and Leete headed wide from close range before Gellatly showed his team-mates how to finish, curling a low shot past Wright after he’d cut into the box from the right-hand side.
Tadman was denied again by Walker after unselfish work by the excellent Adam Dart while Dan Turner rattled the left-hand post in injury time as the visitors sought a consolation.

Team: Tidy; Thorpe, Wright, Dunstan, Green; Thompson, Gellatly, Burns (sub: Foyle 81), Dart; Tadman, Leete.

:: East Grinstead Town 4, Storrington 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
WASPS bounced back after successive away defeats to get their County League campaign back on track in style at East Court on Saturday.
Only a series of great saves by Storrington goalkeeper Paul Smith prevented Bob Smith’s side from winning their Division Two encounter more emphatically although at half-time, when they led 3-0, the game was effectively over.
Smith made a tactical change by playing Ben Burns just behind fellow striker Barry Leete and the switch paid dividends with Burns among several good performers in the home side.
Smith said: “After losing two in a row it was important to get back on track and this win lifts us up to fifth so we’re challenging again.
“The pitch is fantastic and encouraged us to play passing football and once we’d scored our first I don’t think there was any doubt we would win. When they had the ball we defended well as a team, which is what I wanted after the two defeats, and going forward we were always a threat.”
Storrington’s Shaun Hourigan side-footed a good chance into the side netting in the first minute but it was one-way traffic towards the visitors’ goal for most of the next 89.
Simon Tadman had a shot cleared off the line before Smith’s only mistake was punished when he allowed Dave Gellatly’s deep cross in the 12th minute to bounce off the bar to Leete who had a tap-in from a yard.
Smith saved from Tadman and Adam Dart’s 25 yarder crashed out off the underside of the bar before Wasps doubled their lead after 30 minutes. Leete broke clear of the defence and unselfishly squared the ball to Gellatly who gave Smith no chance with a fiercely-struck shot from 12 yards.
Smith again denied Tadman but the Grinstead midfielder finally got the goal his busy display deserved two minutes before half-time when Wasps again breached a creaky Storrington offside trap and Tadman’s volley from 15 yards gave the overworked goalkeeper no chance.
Not surprisingly, Wasps struggled to match their first half performance after the break but their handsome lead was never threatened.
Smith made another reflex save, this time to keep out Dart’s drive, but Wasps got a fourth in the 79th minute when Dart put Leete clear and he poked the ball past the advancing keeper to make it 4-0 with his eighth goal of the season.
Stuart Anderson got an injury-time consolation for the visitors although there appeared to be a clear push on Matt Thorpe as he headed in a right-wing cross.

Team: Tidy; Thorpe, Wright, Thompson, Green (sub: Foyle 78), Dunstan, Tadman (sub: Upton 70), Gellatly, Leete, Burns, Dart.

:: Oakwood 3, East Grinstead Town 1 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
OAKWOOD Park has never been a happy hunting ground for Wasps and they suffered there again on Tuesday, conceding three goals in the last 22 minutes to slump to a second successive league defeat.
The consolation for manager Bob Smith was a much improved performance after Saturday’s setback at Selsey but he will have been disappointed with the way Grinstead’s resolve seemed to crumble in the last third of the contest.
For an hour Wasps were the better side and created some gilt-edged chances. Barry Leete was kept out three times by Oakwood goalkeeper Michael Wood and Dave Gellatly was off target from good positions on two occasions.
Wasps went in front after 11 minutes when Phil Thompson’s shot was blocked and Leete squared the loose ball to Simon Tadman who had a tap-in.
Grinstead’s industry for the first hour couldn’t be faulted but the game got more and more stretched and Oakwood, playing down the slope in the second half, began to get on top.
But it was still a surprise when they equalised on 68 minutes thanks to a side-foot finish from ex-Wasp Phil Butcher following good work by Liam Buchan, who was a threat all night down Oakwood's right.
The visitors were still getting over their disappointment when Zak Newman lifted the ball over the helpless Dave Tidy to make it 2-1.
Newman got a third with a tap-in after 88 minutes when Tidy could only push Buchan’s shot into his path.
The positives were the return of Adam Dart, marred only by a second-half booking, and good performances by Luke Dunstan, Gellatly, Thompson and Kevin Wright.

Team: Tidy; Thorpe, Wright, Thompson, Turville, Dunstan, Tadman (sub: Upton 80), Gellatly, Leete, Burns, Dart. Unused subs: Green, O’Hara, Haylor, Ricketts.

:: Selsey 2, East Grinstead Town 0 :: back to top Go to the top of the page
AFTER touching the heights with their cup win over County League leaders Ringmer the previous week, Wasps pl