The scenario on Saturday was simple enough: Wasps needed to win, their opponents only needed a point and, as
expected, it made for a tense occasion.
But there were chances and if Grinstead had taken the lead when they enjoyed their best spell just after half-time
then the outcome could have been so different.
But EP goalkeeper Brett Simmonds produced a wonderful fingertip save to deflect Chris Raymond's dipping effort
from 20 yards over the bar in the 49th minute.
And, as the decibel level rose, James Horner climbed highest to meet Kris Trevor's corner only for Chris Yelling
to hack it clear off the line.
Grinstead had other efforts with Ben Burns going close on two occasions. But the home fires were more or less
extinguished in the 64th minute when Lee Farrell dummied Matt Huckett's low free kick and Duffy chose the perfect
moment to score his first goal for the club.
Farrell was also denied by Kevin Wright's goalline clearance in a first half where few chances were created as the
tension and a bobbly pitch seemed to inhibit both teams.
Smith threw on Matt Thorpe and Steve Greig in search of an equaliser, but the visitors protected Simmonds well and
Wasps were left hoping rather than expecting to score.
Smith added: "You have to give them credit and say they probably played as well as their manager would have
hoped. I think they will do well in Division One, but you can probably say the same about the top five sides.
"The main thing now is that we are back up there next season and competing again - I'm sure we will be."
Lancing goalkeeper Richard Whitington made some outstanding saves to deny Ben Burns and Kris Trevor in the first
half while Phil Thompson, who scored one and created the other two goals, hit the underside of the crossbar.
Once Grinstead had switched to 3-5-2 to match their opponents formation they took charge and went ahead with a
well-worked goal on the stroke of half-time. Thompson rose to flick on Andy Rabbetts' long ball and Burns produced
instant control and a fierce right-foot shot into the bottom corner for his 17th goal of the season.
The goal settled Wasps down and James Horner struck the outside of the post on 54 minutes before Grinstead added
a second on 70 minutes. Thompson won the ball inside his own half and then stormed into the Lancing box before
unleashing a right-foot shot which flew past Whitington.
Four minutes later it was 3-0. Thompson's long pass found Trevor ahead of the Lancing defence and as Whitington
came out of goal Trevor slipped the ball past him and into the net.
Glenn Souter's dipping volley in injury time from 20 yards was as good a finish as those produced by Grinstead,
but by then the home side's thoughts were already turning to Saturday.
Heath went in front after just six minutes when Jamie Liddell, whose speed caused the visitors problems all
afternoon, outpaced Dave Garrett to a through ball and, as goalkeeper Scott Kenward hesitated, Liddell was able
to round him and slot the ball into an empty net.
The hosts' attacking approach made for non-stop entertainment. Kenward made an excellent double save to deny
Liddell who also wasted a great chance when he fired straight at the goalkeeper when left unmarked at the far
post.
But Grinstead had their moments too with Kris Trevor, Ben Burns, fit-again Dave Gellatly and James Horner all
going close.
The game was turned on it's head in a four-minute spell just after the break.
Trevor levelled 30 seconds into the second half when he cut in from the left and beat goalkeeper James McGrath
with a low, bobbling shot.
Three minutes later Horner found space on the edge of the box and showed great awareness to place his shot just
inside the near post.
Grinstead were now firmly on top and midway through the half they made the game safe when Horner's volley rattled
the bar and Burns bundled in his 16th goal of the season to make it 3-1.
The icing on the cake was provided by defender Andy Rabbetts in injury time when he slotted home from close range
after excellent approach work by the impressive Trevor and substitute Paul McGhee.
Ben Burns, Kevin Wright and Dave Garett all went close in the first half as Grinstead moved the ball around well
despite a rock-hard pitch which made control difficult.
The breakthrough came in the 38th minute. Burns threaded the ball through a static Shinewater defensive line and
Trevor timed his run to perfection before volleying a first time shot past goalkeeper Dave Browning.
Browning rescued his side on the stroke of half-time when he blocked another Trevor effort before the ball was
hacked clear.
Scott Kenward had more to do in the second half as Shine started to push forward. He dealt comfortably enough
with Graham Holman's 25-yarder, but when Ian Davies got clean through the Grinstead keeper saved well with his
legs and was then relieved to see Davies completely mis-kick as the ball took an awful bobble off the pitch as he
tried to latch onto Richard Piper's cross at the far post.
Burns fired over Phil Thompson's cross from inside the six yard box before being replaced by McGhee while Chris
Raymond and the hardworking Matt Thorpe both shot just wide before Wasps got the clinching second goal ten
minutes from time.
McGhee won an important header to release Trevor whose pass found James Horner in plenty of space. As Browning
committed himself, Horner lofted the ball into the goalmouth and Trevor rose above his marker to head in his
fifth goal of the season.
McGhee almost marked his debut with a goal when he headed just over five minutes from time as Grinstead coasted
to a victory which stretches their unbeaten league record to 13 matches.
WASPS' promotion hopes are hanging by the slenderest of threads after they were held to a draw by gutsy Oakwood
at East Court on Tuesday.
An 89th minute goal from Andy Rabbetts at least saved Grinstead from a disastrous defeat and the point cuts the
deficit behind third-placed Eastbourne Town down to ten.
But Grinstead now have to win their last four fixtures to overtake Town - and they must also hope that East
Preston, who have six matches left, slip-up as well.
It could have been a lot worse, had the ever-alert Rabbetts not fastened onto the loose ball after a shot from
Kevin Wright reared up off the rock-hard pitch and hit goalkeeper Lee Butler in the face before rebounding into
the defender's path.
Wasps were poor in the first half and Butler was only forced to make one save in the 37th minute when he held a
shot from Rabbetts which had plenty of power but was fired straight at the goalkeeper.
Oakwood rarely threatened either, but they stunned Wasps by taking the lead on the stroke of half-time. Zak
Newman's clever back-heel put Gerald Manville in and he fired across Scott Kenward and in off the far post.
The paintwork in the home dressing room must have blistered at half-time, such was the ferocity of manager Bob
Smith's 'pep talk'.
It had the desired effect though and Wasps controlled the rest of the match, but the easy chances they squandered
could prove very costly at the end of the season.
James Horner twice fired straight at Butler when he was clean through with only the keeper to beat. Horner also
clipped the crossbar with a close range header while Butler saved well from Matt Thorpe who was outstanding in an
otherwise poor midfield display by Wasps.
Dropping two points or three would hardly have made a difference to the task now facing Grinstead if they want to
go up, but their second half endeavours deserved a goal and, had they been steadier in front of goal, they would
surely have collected maximum points.
A strong wind, rock-hard surface and Mile Oak's small, sloping pitch were hardly going to get purists' pulses
racing on Saturday, but what good football was played came from Grinstead, particularly in the opening half
hour.
They went ahead with a well-worked goal after 12 minutes. Dave Garrett released Kris Trevor down the right and
his cross was expertly guided into the net by Ben Burns for his 15th goal of the season.
Both Trevor and James Horner could only shoot straight at keeper Ashley Walker when clean through and Grinstead
were made to pay for those misses in the 39th minute when Whitington scrambled the loose ball home from Oak's
only corner of the first half.
Gellatly's replacement George Parsons had to go off with an ankle injury and Wasps subsequently lost their way in
midfield. The game became increasingly scrappy, but even so it was still a surprise when Neil Roberts controlled
a right-wing cross on 59 minutes, beat Andy Rabbetts and guided the ball into the bottom corner to give Oak the
lead.
Suddenly there was a bit more urgency about Wasps' play and although a lot of their energy was misdirected they
began to create chances again.
Horner fired horribly wide with only Walker to beat, but on 66 minutes the keeper could only palm Matt Thorpe's
deep cross as far as Garrett who sidefooted it into the far corner to make it 2-2.
Ten minutes later came the winner. Trevor's free-kick found Horner in a suspiciously offside position. Walker
blocked his shot but the ball inadvertantly rebounded off Whitington and rolled into the net.
Oak heads dropped and Walker made two great saves from Thorpe's header and a Trevor free-kick late on as
Grinstead finished the game in control.
The closest Grinstead came during the first half was through Kris Trevor, who had started in a more withdrawn
role behind the front two of Ben Burns and James Horner, but his shot from the edge of the box was comfortably
turned round the post by Danny Todman. Down's only effort of the half came from Doug Cashman but his weak effort
from just inside the box went straight to Scott Kenward.
The second half started in a similar vein, apart from a couple of dropped catches from Todman which Burns failed
to capitalise on both keepers were virtual spectators as the game looked like petering out into a goalless draw
until that was referee's Thompson's intervention.
Kris Trevor managed to get in behind Dave Connor as he proceeded towards goal he was caught by Connor, it was
certainly a free-kick but the referee astonished everyone when he pointed to the spot when the infringement had
clearly been outside the box. Grinstead had missed their last two penalties but their regular penalty taker Steve
Greig was back in the side to squeeze home his penalty between Todman and post.
That wasn't the last of the action though as four minutes into injury time Down who hadn't threatened all morning
won their penalty. Bob Chambers launched a hopeful punt forward, for the first time in the match Cashman got in
behind Andy Rabbetts, as Rabbetts tried to get back, Cashman lobbed the ball into Rabbetts arm, some could say
ball to hand but having given the earlier penalty there was only one decision the referee was going to make and
that was penalty. Cashman confidently stroked the resultant penalty away in what was virtually the last kick of
the game.
An inspired 2nd half display ensured Grinstead all three points last Tuesday.
Grinstead were 2nd best throughout the first half and had Scott Kenward to thank with a fine stop from Darren
Brown to ensure Grinstead went in at half-time on level terms.
Once Grinstead took the lead on 53 minutes there was only going to be one winner. James Horner set the ball
rolling with a shot on the turn from the edge of the box which squirmed under Graham Leach's body.
Dave Garrett made it 2-0 seven minutes later with a volley at the back-post from a Dave Gellatly mis-hit shot.
The goal of the game was scored from Ben Burns with a vicious left foot volley from the edge of the box and right
on the stroke of full-time Dave Gellatly scored a fine solo effort following a run from the half-way line.
To be fair to Bosham the scoreline probably flattered Grinstead a bit. Dave Gellatly aside it was goalkeeper
Scott Kenward who was Grinstead's best player with some vital saves in what was probably one of his busiest games
of the season.
It only took Grinstead 8 minutes to take the lead, with their first attack of the match, having already survived
two scares from Bosham's Mark Lampard and James Stewart, who both should have done better with free headers from
close range. Kris Trevor was the provider with a slide rule pass to Gellatly who confidently stroked the ball
past Bosham's stand in keeper Stuart Probee.
Ben Burns then had two golden opportunities to extend the lead shortly afterwards but both times he was denied by
keeper Probee by close range. It looked at this stage as if the floodgates would open but twice within a minute
around the 20 minute mark both Lampard and Stewart were denied by smart saves by Kenward.
Grinstead survived these scares however and on 33 minutes doubled their lead. Dave Garrett fed Gellatly on the
left who cut inside his marker on the edge of the box and rifled his shot into the roof of the net leaving Probee
leaden footed.
Spirited Bosham still didn't lie down and it was the dangerous Stewart who caused Grinstead problems all
afternoon who brought a smart save from Kenward just before half time and just after the break Kenward was again
at full stretch to deny David Storey.
The game though was virtually over as a contest on the hour mark when Dave Gellatly completed his hat-trick.
James Horner released Burns he's shot was charged down straight to the left foot of Gellatly who had the easy
task of sliding the ball into the empty net.
It was only after the 3rd goal the Bosham's head's finally dropped and it was Grinstead who threatened to run
riot in the final quarter of the game. Tony Langridge who otherwise had a quiet debut hit the post from a Garrett
cross and Trevor made a storming run into the Bosham box but his weak shot was easily saved by Probee. Trevor did
make it four on 75 minutes however when he latched onto a through ball before skilfully rounding keeper Probee
before the easiest of finishes. Grinstead were then denied three one on one situations by what can only be
described, bizarre decisions by linesman Orford.
The fifth and Gellatly's fourth arrived with three minutes to go when he tucked in from the left and fired past
Probee from the edge of the box.
Grinstead's other main promotion rivals East Preston enjoyed a 2-0 away win against championship favourites Rye
to keep up their promotion challenge.
Grinstead's star turn came from striker Kris Trevor who created two of the goals, won a penalty which was missed
and was only denied the goal his performance deserved when his goalbound shot got stuck on the mud on the line.
The East Court pitch held up remarkably well considering the rain which fell just before kick-off and Wasps were
soon into their stride, going in front after just nine minutes.
Trevor slipped a pass into the path of defender Andy Rabbetts and he showed the composure of a forward to slide
his shot past Andy Millard for his first goal since December 8 and third of the campaign.
Ben Bown cleared James Horner's chip off the line and Horner, Dave Garrett and Dave Gellatly, who was back to his
best in midfield, all had chances to extend the lead before half-time.
Gellatly killed off the visitors with a second on 65 minutes, taking Ben Burns' pass in his stride and checking
inside a defender before drilling his shot past Millard for his fourth goal of the season.
Eight minutes later Kevin Wright was brought down inside the box by Calum Britton, but for the second successive
game Grinstead failed from the spot, Burns firing the kick wide.
Not that it was ever going to make much difference to the result. Trevor, who had already hit the post with an
angled shot from the corner of the box, rounded Millard with eight minutes left but amazingly the ball stopped on
the line as he tapped it in from six yards and John Edwards scrambled back to clear.
Edwards got in behind Rabbetts to register Oving's only shot on target in injury time, but found the side netting
and Wasps went straight upfield to get a deserved third goal. Horner found Trevor and his shot was going in when
Burns, like all good strikers, claimed his 13th of the season with a tap-in on the line.
THERE were no complaints from manager Bob Smith as Wasps suffered semi-final heartbreak in the Division Two Cup
for the second year running last Wednesday.
Eastbourne Town's speedy striker Gary Brockwell scored a hat-trick as his side avenged the two league defeats
they had suffered against Grinstead with a thoroughly deserved 3-1 win.
The turning point came ten minutes into the second half. Eastbourne were 1-0 up thanks to Brockwell's 23rd minute
penalty, which was awarded for Peter Benton's clumsy foul on Mike Watkin, when Wasps got a spot-kick of their own
after Kris Trevor had his shirt pulled as he got his shot away. But James Horner saw his penalty brilliantly
saved by Andy Young and Eastbourne celebrated their reprieve by doubling their lead five minutes later when
Brockwell raced clear to fire low under Scott Kenward.
Ben Burns tapped in Matt Thorpe's cross to make it 2-1 with five minutes to go, but almost immediately Brockwell
latched onto a poor clearance by Kenward to complete his hat-trick.
Grinstead had a Kris Trevor goal disallowed during an even first half at Middle Road, but it was Shoreham,
inspired by the trickery down both flanks of Warren Levy, who broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when Darren
Annis broke through down the left and beat Scott Kenward with a powerful shot which gave the Grinstead keeper
no chance.
By then Smith had switched from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 and they gradually began to dominate as Shoreham seemed to
settle for what they had. Steve Greig fired just wide, James Horner put the rebound straight into the arms of
Terry Fox after the keeper had failed to hold onto Dave Gellatly's shot and Parsons had a glorious chance with
20 minutes left when he was put clean through only to be denied by Fox's sprawling save as he aimed for the top
corner.
It looked as if the leaders were going to hang on until Thorpe's bolt from the blue.
WASPS were beaten but far from disgraced as their Sussex Floodlight Cup run came to an end at East Court on
Tuesday night. Ryman League Horsham stretched their unbeaten run to 19 games thanks to a 42nd minute goal from
Jamie Taylor who glanced in a corner by Lee Carney to book his side's place in the semi-finals. But Grinstead
played their part in an entertaining tie on a pitch that was in good condition despite the heavy rain.
Manager Bob Smith said: "We were well organised, competitive and worked hard. After a poor display at Oving on
Saturday it was a much better display. The important thing for us is to maintain that level of performance for
the rest of the season because if we do we won't lose many games."
Although Grinstead rarely extended Horsham keeper Ian Chatfield, they felt agrieved just after half-time when
Kris Trevor was clearly tugged back by Tommy Warrilow as he burst clear with only Chatfield to beat, but referee
Grant Smith failed to spot the infringement.
Taylor struck the bar early on and in the closing stages Michael Death also hit the woodwork and fellow
substitute Marcel Dennis rifled the rebound against the post. But Grinstead defended resolutely for long spells,
with Steve Moore and Andy Rabbetts outstanding, while goalkeeper Scott Kenward's handling was impressive in the
wet conditions. But this was a hard-working display all round from Smith's men and Peter Benton, restored to the
team after some impressive displays in the reserves, can surely look forward to an extended run in the team
after his display in midfield.
WASPS missed the chance to make up ground on their promotion rivals after they were held to a disappointing draw
on the south coast on Saturday. It was their first game for five weeks, but there wasn't much evidence of
rustiness in the first half as Grinstead dominated after Kris Trevor had scored his second goal for the club in
the seventh minute.
But it was a different story after the break. Oving upped the tempo and in the end Wasps were happy to leave
Highfield Lane with a point even though they squandered enough chances, particularly in the first half, to have
won comfortably.
Manager Bob Smith was not impressed. He said: "We played well for the first 20 minutes, but when they raised
it in the second half we just couldn't find a response.
"The fitness of some of the players - and they know who they are - needs to improve. The annoying thing is that
quite a few of the sides around us dropped points but we have missed an opportunity to take advantage. Promotion
isn't just going to be handed to us on a plate, we will have to work hard for it and if the lads in the team at
the moment aren't prepared to do that I will have to find one or two who are."
Grinstead dropped out of the top four for the first time since October and they are now a hefty 16 points behind
third-placed Eastbourne Town, allbeit with six games in hand. Of the other promotion chasers, East Preston and
Lancing were both held to draws while leaders' Shoreham - whom Grinstead visit on Saturday week - have picked up
just one point in the last 12 after losing 3-1 to Eastbourne Town.
WASPS' promotion bid suffered a setback when they conceded a late equaliser in Saturday's exciting Division Two
battle on the coast.
James Horner's double, which made it six goals in a week for the young striker, appeared to have put Grinstead on
course for victory on a ground where they have enjoyed little success over the years.
But United substitute twice pulled his side level when Grinstead failed to deal with the home side's aerial threat
at set pieces, his second equaliser coming just four minutes from time.
With East Preston making up ground on fourth-placed Grinstead after a 3-2 win over Seaford, the battle for
promotion is really hotting up and Grinstead manager Bob Smith was disappointed his side hadn't managed to hang
on.
He said: "In the first half we were the better side without creating too much. The second half was more even,
but we just about deserved to win and it was disappointing when we conceded a poor goal from our point of view."
Lancing, who are on the fringes of the promotion race, are this Saturday's visitors to East Court for what is
expected to be another tough battle (ko 3.00pm). "It's another difficult game for us," said Smith. "But Lancing like to play good football and that should
help us. There are the sort of side capable of taking points off any team and we have to make sure it's not us."
Smith brought back Kevin Wright, after his recovery from a broken toe, and Steve Moore in two changes to the team
which had reached the semi-finals of the Division Two Cup after last Tuesday's 8-0 thrashing of Wealden,
Grinstead's biggest win for 23 years.
Kris Trevor again looked lively up front for Wasps and created a couple of half chances for himself in what was a
fairly non-descript first half with defences generally on top.
Worthing began brightly after the break, but Trevor squandered a good chance on the hour when Steve Greig's pass
found him in space 15 yards out and Trevor screwed his shot over the crossbar.
But it didn't seem to matter when Grinstead broke the deadlock four minutes later. Skipper Dave Gellalty's slide
rule pass put Horner clear and he drew goalkeeper Paul House before sliding his shot into the far corner.
House palmed a fiercely struck shot from Matt Thorpe round the post as Grinstead began to get on top, but when
defender Graham Waller flashed a free header from a corner inches wide it was a warning the visitors didn't heed.
Danny Davies's delivery from set pieces was a problem all afternoon for Wasps and in the 79th minute Waller nodded
his corner back across the face of goal and substitute Blake nudged the ball over the line.
Suddenly both sides sensed they could win and it looked as if Grinstead had secured victory five minutes later
after a superb solo goal from Horner. The youngster rarely did his talents justice in a wide midfield role after
joining from Redhill in October, but he has been a revelation since Smith pushed him forward to partner Trevor.
Collecting possession wide on the right, he went past two defenders and cut into the box, ghosting past another
opponent before sweeping a left-foot shot past House. "It was one of the best goals we've scored this season," said Smith. "James has got quick feet so he is
always going to cause defenders problems and our supporters have seen in the past week how good a finisher he is
as well."
Unfortunately Horner's good work went to waste. From another Davies corner, Waller's header was cleared off the
line by Wright but Grinstead's respite was short-lived. In a carbon copy of their first goal, Waller rose to head
down Davies's flag kick and with goalkeeper Scott Kenward caught in no-man's land, Blake made it 2-2.
WASPS are through to the semi-finals of the Division Two Cup after enjoying their biggest win for years against
Wealden at East Court on Tuesday night.
The visitors competed well in the early stages, but when Dave Gellatly tucked Kris Trevor's left-wing cross past
Neil Linstrem for the opening goal on 23 minutes the floodgates opened.
Another cross from the outstanding Trevor from the left was converted by James Horner two minutes later and
Grinstead only had to wait another two minutes for their third goal when Matt Thorpe made space before firing a
low left-foot shot into the corner.
Trevor got free again to set up Horner for his second on 33 minutes and Steve Greig completed a spell of five
goals in 16 minutes when he hooked the ball home from close range after Linstrem had turned Andy Rabbettds' shot
onto the bar.
Trevor's half-time replacement Ricky Geddes scored within nine minutes of making his debut when he latched onto
Gellatly's pass and rounded the keeper to make it 6-0.
Grinstead continued to create chances and scored arguably their two best goals in the last ten minutes. Horner
flashed a header past Linstrem from Gellatly's cross to complete his hat-trick and Gellatly saved the best until
last, finding the top corner with a dipping 25 yard shot in the 89th minute.
Horner has now scored four goals in two games since switching to a striker's role while manager Bob Smith was also
pleased with Dave Garrett's performance at sweeper and Scott Woolley's committed display in midfield.
Smith said: "We played some superb football and our finishing was first-class. This result will give the
players a lot of confidence for the league as well."
WASPS maintained their Division Two promotion challenge with a vital win after a dramatic finale in the mist at
East Court on Saturday.
Dave Garrett scored direct from a free-kick with four minutes left to give Bob Smith's side the lead for the
first time, but that wasn't the end of the drama.
In injury time goalkeeper Scott Kenward was spotted pushing an opponent as players jostled for position at a
corner. Referee Roy Cheshire blew for a penalty when most of the crowd thought he'd blown the final whistle. Some
of them were heading for the exit and turned round to see Westfield's Mark Drinkwater scuff his spot kick well
wide.
Although they left it late Grinstead deserved victory and while Smith felt his side only played well in patches
his mood improved afterwards when he learned of defeats for promotion rivals East Preston and Lancing.
Shoreham and Rye seem to be steaming towards the first division, but Grinstead, EP and Eastbourne Town are locked
in a fierce battle for the third promotion spot. Wasps have won a few games with late goals this season and Smith
was delighted that the trend continued.
He said: "We passed the ball well at times in the first half, but then we seemed to lose our way a bit. But I
was quite pleased with the way we stuck at it. Bearing in mind the other results it was another important three
points."
Despite the absence of regular leftback Kevin Wright (broken toe), Smith resisted the temptation to switch from
4-4-2 and his new look strike force of James Horner and Kris Trevor, who was making his home debut, were a
constant threat.
Mark Hillen had a goal disallowed, Horner was denied by goalkeeper Peter Newstead and Trevor had a shot cleared
off the line, yet Grinstead still trailed at half-time.
Mark Ward headed the opener on 25 minutes from a free kick and Kevin Rose squeezed a shot past Kenward on the
stroke of half-time. In between Horner levelled on 29 minutes when he fired a low drive past Newstead from the
edge of the box.
Grinstead were back on level terms on 53 minutes when midfielder Matt Thorpe scored at the second attempt after
Newstead had blocked his first shot.
Andy Rabbetts fired wide from close range after Westfield failed to clear a free-kick and some great skill by
Horner created a shooting chance but he dragged his shot wide. No matter, two minutes later Garrett's free kick
from wide on the right eluded everyone and flew into the top corner.
Wright could be in contention for a return on Saturday when Grinstead face a tough trip to Worthing United (ko
2.00pm).
WASPS found the second division title favourites too strong for them on Saturday as they suffered only their
second away defeat of the season.
Three goals in the space of ten minutes either side of half-time finished off Wasps, but boss Bob Smith was
pleased with the way Grinstead took the game to their hosts in the last half hour when they were 4-1 down and
their cause effectively lost.
In fact it wasn't a bad display by Wasps and against most teams in the league it would have been good enough for
at least a point. But a Rye side studded with players with Dr Martens League experience had too much ability in
all departments.
Smith said: "They are easily the best side in the league but we didn't give a bad account of ourselves.
"At 4-1 down soon after half-time we could have thrown in the towel, but we showed a lot of character by taking
the game to them again.
"It's obviously a setback, but I can't see many sides taking points off them especially at their place."
Grinstead's pre-match preparations were hardly ideal. Two cars broke down on the long trip to the south-east
corner of the county and four players didn't arrive until 15 minutes before kick-off.
One of them, new striker Kris Trevor, had to go off with a pulled hamstring after 35 minutes and his injury was
probably sustained because he was unable to warm-up properly on a bitingly cold afternoon.
Rye were soon into their stride and Scott Kenward saved at full stretch from Keith Miles after ten minutes.
Miles squandered two more good chances over although it wasn't all one-way traffic.
In the 29th minute Andy Rabbetts flicked on James Horner's corner and Steve Greig's diving header was hacked off
the line by Phil Rhodes.
Rye deservedly went ahead in the 31st minute when Miles cut inside a defender before placing a right-foot shot
into the far corner.
But within a minute Wasps had scored a superb equaliser. Kevin Wright pulled the ball back from the left to
skipper Dave Gellatly who rifled an unstoppable right-foot shot into the top corner from the edge of the box for
his first of the campaign.
Who knows what might have happened had Wasps hung on until half-time. Instead they conceded two goals in the
space of two minutes.
Rye's second had a touch of fortune about it. Shaun Loft challenged Matt Thorpe in the air and Loft's header
deflected off his opponent and flew past a startled Kenward.
The goalkeeper was at fault for the third on 39 minutes when he came to claim a cross and didn't make contact,
allowing Miles to steer the ball into an unguarded goal.
Rye were coasting three minutes after the break when Loft found space to send a glancing header from Scott
Price's cross into the bottom corner.
At that stage it looked as if Wasps were going to suffer a severe dent to their goal difference. But Rye eased
up and in the last 30 minutes Grinstead enjoyed sustained pressure.
They were rewarded after 72 minutes when Wright, who had pushed forward when Smith switched to a 3-5-2
formation, netted his second goal of the season from Gellatly's deep cross.
DEFENDER Andy Rabbetts was Wasps' unlikely hero as they moved back into the promotion frame with a hard-fought
County League win at promoted Seaford on Saturday.
Rabbetts showed a striker's predatory instincts in the penalty area to fire home an 85th minute winner and lift
Grinstead back into third place in the second division.
New striker Kris Trevor also had cause to celebrate his first goal for Wasps in only his second appearance as his
team chalked up their seventh away win of the campaign.
Manager Bob Smith said: "It was another good performance by the whole side, once again our workrate was
tremendous and it had to be because Seaford made it difficult for us as we knew they would.
"Kris's goal will give him confidence and I was really pleased for Rabbo when he got the winner. He has been our
most consistent player in recent weeks and he does get important goals for us."
Seaford came into the match on the back of three successive wins and made a bright start although they were
restricted to just one chance in the first half when Adam Kneller headed a free kick wide in the 28th minute.
Wasps kept their shape well and got in a lot of work to keep the home side at bay with Trevor twice going close.
An excellent covering tackle by rightback Darren Moore denied him a shooting chance in the 16th minute and ten
minutes before half-time he dragged his shot wide after creating some space with neat skills on the edge of the
box.
The second half was a much livelier affair with Wasps breaking the deadlock in the 47th minute. Matt Thorpe
swung over a free-kick and Trevor was allowed a free header which he nodded past keeper Graham Webb.
Grinstead's new striker might have been celebrating again ten minutes later when he robbed Roy Ranger and
chipped Webb only to see the ball come back off the underside of the bar.
Wasps looked like adding to their lead at this stage, but they retreated into defence and allowed Seaford to
come back into the game. Simon Halsey had two gilt-edged chances midway through the half, mis-kicking eight
yards out before Scott Kenward made an excellent save after he'd been left unmarked at the back post.
Skipper Dave Gellatly forced a fine save out of Webb after Trevor had set up the shooting chance, but Seaford
drew level in the 78th minute although there was an element of controversy about the goal.
Simon Young's shot from the edge of the box flew well over the bar, but amazingly referee Dick Milton awarded a
corner and Steve Lambert back-headed the ball into the top corner.
It looked as if Wasps would have to settle for a point, but five minutes from time the home side failed to deal
with Thorpe's free kick and Rabbetts kept his cool to fire home the winner off the goalkeeper's legs.
BOSS Bob Smith was left seeking consolation in the performances of his two new players as his side's six match
winning run was abruptly halted at the Parish Field on Saturday.
Steve Moore made an accomplished return to the heart of the defence, five years after his last appearance in the
amber and black shirt, while new forward Chris Trevor had an encouraging debut up front, creating Grinstead's
two best chances and generally looking the part.
They were the only crumbs of comfort for Smith as his side, who had kept five clean sheets during that winning
run, conceded two sloppy goals.
On their sloping, narrow pitch, Westfield showed the necessary aggression and determination to suggest that they
are capable of upsetting teams at home.
They also have a striker who is bang in form and Duncan Jones took just eight minutes to make his presence felt.
Goalkeeper Scott Kenward should have come out to claim Tony Harris's long ball, but he hesitated and Jones
nipped into space and lobbed the ball into an empty net.
At the other end Trevor twice came close to marking his debut with a first half goal. An excllent first touch
from Moore's pass gave him a chance in the 15th minute, but he shot narrowly wide and he created space again in
the 42nd minute only to be denied by a fine save from Westfield keeper Will Toal.
But Westfield always had the upper hand in midfield and Wasps continued to look shaky at the back. Scott
Woolley, who came on with 20 minutes left after Moore's hamstring had tightened up, cleared a shot from Darrol
Parris off the line while Kenward made an excellent save from Kevin Rose.
But Grinstead's fate was sealed nine minutes from time when they failed to clear a corner and Mark Drinkwater's
shot beat Kenward from the edge of the box with the aid of a deflection off Rabbetts.
WASPS are up to second in County League Division Two after their perseverence paid off with a late winner
against lowly Storrington at East Court on Saturday.
The well-organised visitors didn't look like a side who had suffered 11 straight defeats, including a 4-0
reverse by Grinstead five weeks earlier, as they got men behind the ball at any sign of danger.
But the home side finally made their pressure tell with seven minutes left, ironically after Storrington had
enjoyed their best spell of the game.
Alan Tucker was inches off target with a powerful 20 yard volley after Grinstead failed to clear a corner and
the visitors had strong penalty appeals turned down by referee Neil Saxton after substitute Matthew High was
sent sprawling by Andy Rabbetts' firm challenge.
But just when it appeared Wasps were going to endure an afternoon of frustration, Scott Woolley clipped a
diagonal ball into the danger area. Substitute Richard Whale got the feintest of flick-ons and leftback Kevin
Wright was suddenly in space to fire through keeper Kerry Harding's legs before he was mobbed by delighted
team-mates.
Wright and Grinstead's other fullback Dave Garrett spent most of the second half bombing forward as the home
side hammered away at a resolute Storrington defence.
Too often, however, the final ball let their side down, but there was no denying that on the balance of play
Grinstead deserved to record their sixth successive league win, a sequence which now includes five clean
sheets.
They took the game to Storrington early on when concerted pressure should have been rewarded.
Harding made a third minute save from Matt Thorpe's powerful drive and later denied Sam Bettridge who was just
off target with a shot on the turn.
The keeper also made an excellent low stop to deny Wright, but the home side's best chance of the half came on
20 minutes when Rabbetts got a firm header to James Horner's cross only to see it bounce to safety off the base
of the post.
It wasn't quite as one-sided in the second half, but Grinstead keeper Scott Kenward was a spectator for long
spells and he must have been just as frustrated as the home fans when Bettridge beat the offside trap in the
58th minute to race clear onto Thorpe's pass only to drag his shot wide of the far post with only Harding to
beat.
Manager Bob Smith replaced top scorer Ben Burns and Horner with an hour played and as the home side became
increasingly desperate in their search for a breakthrough Harding saved well from skipper Dave Gellalty who had
also gone close in the first half with a header which dropped the wrong side of the post.
But it all turned out well in the end for Smith's men who must have also been pleased that some of the other
leading promotion contenders dropped valuable points.
THE way their players celebrated at the end showed just how important Saturday's win over relegated Eastbourne
meant to Grinstead.
Three weeks after winning a hard-fought battle against Town at East Court, Wasps completed the double thanks to
a 73rd minute penalty from Steve Greig.
It was the midfielder's fourth successful spot kick in the last six games, during which time he has scored
seven of his eight goals this season.
Greig sent Andy Young the wrong way after Craig Otley's clumsy challenge had ended skipper Dave Gellatly's
rampaging run into the heart of the defence.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, the home side will probably claim with some justification that their long
spells of territorial dominance should have earned them a point.
But Wasps were in stubborn mood defensively as they kept their fourth clean sheet in the last five games, an
encouraging statistic after the previous five outings had seen them concede 12 goals.
With Scott Woolley working, manager Bob Smith had to make a change in defence with Daniel Medcalf, whose
appearances have been restricted by university commitments, making his first start for over two years.
Medcalf swept up tidily behind man of the match Andy Rabetts while fullbacks Dave Garrett and Kevin Wright
utilised their pace well when danger threatened, most notably in injury time when Garrett made a last-ditch
tackle in front of goal just as Gary Brockwell was about to pull the trigger inside the six yard box.
As a team Grinstead defended doggedly to restrict the hosts to just an occasional glimpse of Scott Kenward's
goal. The keeper made a good double save midway through the second half to deny Brockwell before keeping out
Nick Barden's low drive and generally commanded his area well.
Wasps' best chance in the first half came after 15 minutes when Sam Bettridge, making his first start since
mid-August, planted a close range header over the bar from James Horner's corner. Bettridge worked hard all
afternoon and Richard Whale, who replaced the subdued Ben Burns in the second half, proved a handful and
created two half-chances when he broke down the left and got crosses in.
By then Grinstead seemed content to soak up pressure and hit on the counter-attack and Gellatly proved their
best outlet as he made some strong runs down the right, one of which resulted in the penalty which Greig
converted with aplomb.
It was all hands to the pump in the last 15 minutes as Eastbourne pushed men forward in search of an equaliser,
but they seemed to sense their chance had gone when Brockwell missed from 12 yards when, for once, Wasps'
defensive discipline deserted them and he was allowed a free header.
A hard-fought game dominated by two solid defences was won in the 65th minute. Midfielder Matt Thorpe's 25
yarder would probably have been saved comfortably by Terry Fox, but the ball struck Roger Gualtieri on the back
and looped over the keeper into the roof of the net.
It was a reward for a spirited second half display by Grinstead who had protected keeper Scott Kenward well
during Shoreham's best spell at the end of a fairly scrappy first half.
Kenward tipped a volley from Darren Annis onto the post, but most of his saves were routine ones although it
wasn't until the second half before Fox was called into action.
He palmed over a shot from Ben Burns after 50 minutes and two minutes later Dave Gellatly finished a storming
run with a strike which flew just over the crossbar.
Gualtieri, restored to the team in place of the cup-tied James Horner, certainly justified his return with a
lively display while Dave Garrett and Kevin Wright brought pace to the fullback positions in an encouraging
defensive display by the hosts.
Manager Bob Smith brought off both is forwards in the last 15 minutes and although Grinstead rarely looked
like adding to their lead they were seldom tested at the back either.
Grinstead needed the insurance of Greig's late goal to finally see off spirited but limited opponents in a
match littered with free-kicks.
In the opening half hour Wasps looked like handing out a hiding.
Burns, twice, and Dave Gellatly all went close as their crisp passing opened up Shine's defence and Thorpe and
Greig took control in midfield.
The goal they deserved came on 14 minutes when Gellatly's corner was only cleared as far as Matt Thorpe who
drove a half-volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the box for his eighth goal of the season.
James Horner's 20 yard drive dipped just over the bar and Andy Rabbetts saw a close range effort blocked as
Grinstead continued to hold sway.
But it was a different story after the break. Wasps' passing became sloppy and as their frustration grew
Shinewater sensed all was not lost.
The home side appeared to have found a way back into the game when Rabbetts was somewhat hashly punished for
what looked like a perfectly good challenge as Graham Holman burst through. But justice appeared to have been
done when Kenward dived to his right to parry James Body's penalty for a corner.
Although Shinewater continued to huff and puff, Kenward was rarely troubled and in injury time Wasps were
awarded a penalty of their own when Body sent Greig sprawling as he made space to shoot. Greig got up to send
Kusha Movaffagh the wrong way from the spot for his fifth goal in the last three games.
WASPS are up to fourth place in County League Division Two after a late goal from substitute Dave Garrett
secured a hard-fought win over a lively Eastbourne side at East Court on Saturday.
The visitors looked the likely winners when they came from 2-0 down to draw level through Gary Brockwell's
71st minute goal.
But in the last minute of normal time, with both teams pressing for the winner, James Hylton led a Grinstead
counter-attack. He found Matt Thorpe who unselfishly squared the ball to Garrett who hammered a low shot into
the bottom corner from close range.
Wasps still had to endure seven minutes of injury time before securing only their second home league win of
the campaign.
Boss Bob Smith said: "We were perhaps a shade fortunate to win but when they got it back to 2-2 we had a
really good spell and finished strongly. The pitch was heavy and we didn't play the football I wanted us too,
but the workrate was excellent and I thought we did a lot better defensively against one of the best teams
we've played this season."
An injury to Chris Raymond meant Ian Smith made only his second appearance as sweeper and Smith and his
fellow defenders had their work cut out early on as Eastbourne began strongly.
But Grinstead broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when Mike Watkins tripped Dave Gellatly in the penalty
area and Steve Greig stroked home the resultant penalty for his fifth goal in the last three games.
Wasps went 2-0 in front 11 minutes later. Scott Woolley's shot was cleared to Ben Burns who unselfishly laid
the ball into the path of Thorpe and he drilled a low shot into the far corner from the corner of the box
for his sixth goal of the season.
But the visitors were always a threat and it was no surprise when Watkins collected an angled pass in plenty
of space and fired a low shot past Scott Kenward to make it 2-1 four minutes before half-time.
The chances dried up at the start of the second half, but Wasps were looking reasonably comfortable when
they conceded a soft equaliser after 71 minutes. Town broke quickly after a Grinstead corner and substitute
Yemi Obudade set up Brockwell who gave Kenward no chance from 12 yards.
At that stage the visitors looked favourites, but Wasps hit back with Thorpe firing just over after a
free-kick was cleared to him before Andy Rabbetts scooped the ball over the target from five yards following
a corner.
Smith threw on all three substitutes and it was fitting that two of them combined to set up what proved to be
the clinching goal in one of the best games of the season so far.
A first Grinstead hat trick from midfielder Steve Greig ensured Grinstead an easy ride against struggling
Storrington.
Grinstead are now unbeaten in six away league games. Their performances away from home are far superior to
those at home and this was no exception.
From the moment Greig put Grinstead into the lead on 18 minutes in truth there was only ever going to be one
winner. His first goal was by far the best of the three. He picked up a pass from Kevin Wright and from about
20 yards side footed a curling effort into the top corner which left keeper Kerry Harding standing.
Grinstead by that stage had already gone close to taking the lead with top scorer Ben Burns twice seeing
efforts go narrowly wide.
Greig made it two on 25 minutes in totally different circumstances an inswinging corner from James Horner was
headed on by Scott Wooley that enabled Greig to force the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.
Seven minutes later and the game was already over as a contest, Dave Gellatly was the creator this time. He
showed good strength at the back post which enabled him to knock the ball back to Matt Thorpe whose shot went
under the body of the shell shocked Harding.
At this point with the game already won Grinstead put their foot of the peddle and particularly at the start of
the second half allowed Storrington some pressure but apart from a couple of half chances for striker Chris
Phillips never really trouble keeper Scott Kenward.
Greig completed his hat trick on 73 minutes in very similar circumstances to his second. Again it was from a
Horner corner, this time Dave Garrett got the flick on to give Greig the simple task of tapping in at the far
post.
Greig was immediately substituted because of a slight thigh strain but despite this Grinstead produced their
best football in the last quarter and were unlucky not to increase their lead.
They were denied three times by the woodwork. Gellatly who is still looking for his first goal of the season
hit the crossbar with a curling free-kick, Garrett's cute chip after Burns had been denied by Harding also hit
the bar and then following a sweeping move substitute James Hylton was denied by the foot of the post right at
the death.
WASPS lost further ground with the pacesetters in Division Two after suffering a second home league defeat of the
season at East Court on Tuesday.
Grinstead fought back after trailling 2-0 inside 11 minutes to draw level by half-time.
But Rye's Shuan Ray completed a hat-trick on the hour as Grinstead were again punished for a poor defensive
performance.
Ray opened his account after four minutes when he was able to race clear of a square defence to shoot inside Scott
Kenward's near post.
And seven minutes later Wasps were left with a mountain to climb when they were caught square by another long ball
which Ray latched on to before firing past a helpless Kenward.
Manager Bob Smith immediately switched to a 3-5-2 formation and Grinstead worked their way back into the game.
James Horner was outstanding on the left wing during the first half and when Dave Garrett was held back trying to
get onto one of his crosses referee Miller awarded a penalty which Steve Greig converted for his second goal of the
season.
Garrett and Richard Whale, a late replacement for James Hylton who didn't arrive at the ground until five minutes
before kick-off, both had chances as Grinstead began to stretch Rye's defence.
And it was no surprise when Wasps equalised after 42 minutes although it was a shock to see Horner's corner on the
left elude two defenders on the near post and go straight past startled keeper Simon Rudgely for his first
Grinstead goal.
The match was settled on the hour with a goal similar to the first two Wasps had conceded. As the ball was pumped
forward, Chris Raymond stepped up to play offside. However Ray had timed his run to perfection and raced clear to
complete his hat-trick.
Ray had further chances to score as Wasps pushed men forward in search of an equaliser, but Grinstead went close
to equalising with Whale, Greig both going close before Hylton saw his shot in the last minute saved at full
stretch by the grateful goalkeeper.
A disappointing result for Wasps who have got to start tightening up their defensive act if they are to stay in
touch with the promotion pacesetters.
Manager Bob Smith must be happy with his side's work-rate, which was typified in midfield by Greig and Matt Thorpe,
but admitted they are conceding far too many soft goals at the moment.
TWO superb goals from top scorer Ben Burns weren't enough to secure a valuable victory for Wasps at East Court on
Friday.
When Burns met substitute Dave Garrett's right-wing cross to volley in his 11th goal of the season with four minutes
left the home side appeared to have earned a hard-fought win.
But with a minute remaining Paul O'Sullivan's through ball left Scott Woolley appealing vainly for offside and
Richard Tiltman ghosted into acres of space and rounded Scott Kenward before steering the equaliser into an empty
net.
It was a stunning blow for Grinstead, but overall a draw was probably a fair result. Neither goalkeeper could say he
was overworked, but the tempo of the game was good and the action flowed from end to end throughout.
Burns - and those who witnessed them - will remember it for two superb goals. Infact his first was one of the best
seen at East Court for years.
It came in the 24th minute after a scrappy opening in which Steve Greig and James Hylton had both forced saves out of
United keeper Paul Best.
There seemed little danger when Burns received possession some 20 yards out with his back to goal, but the youngster
swivelled away from his marker and then hit a dipping volley with his left foot into the top right-hand corner of
Best's goal. The cheers were still echoing around East Court when the game re-started.
But not for the first time this season going in front seemed to bring the worst out in Grinstead. Their concentration
and workrate levels dropped and within six minutes Danny Keach had bundled in the equaliser after Adam Westwood had
headed on Paul Rapps' corner.
There was a fragility about Grinstead's defending throughout. They were caught square too often and there was a lack
of communication as United enjoyed their best spell before half-time without seriously testing Kenward.
Wasps adopted a more urgent approach in the second half as they slowly got to grips with their task, particularly in
midfield.
Keach fired wide when clean through while at the other end Hylton dragged his shot past the post from a corner by
Garrett who had replaced James Horner.
Kenward made an outstanding save low to his left with 15 minutes to go from another Keach shot and as the game got
stretched Dave Gellatly, who had another good game wide on the right, burst through two tackles only to see his shot
go wide.
Then came the late drama when Burns thought he had won it for Wasps only for the visitors to get the point what even
the most myopic home fan would agree they deserved.
WASPS are one win away from a second successive appearance in the semi-finals of the Division Two Cup after a
hard-fought home win in their third meeting in six weeks against Mile Oak on Saturday.
Grinstead won 4-0 at Oak a couple of weeks ago in the Floodlight Cup and perhaps had visions of a repeat scoreline
when Matt Thorpe gave them a 10th minute lead with his fourth goal of the season.
Chris Raymond opened his account to make it 2-0 ten minutes after the break, but Wasps eased up after that and Matt
Hurley's goal ensured an uncomfortable last 15 minutes for the home fans.
Nevertheless, after two successive cup defeats, it was a welcome confidence boost for Grinstead ahead of an
important month of league fixtures.
Dave Gellatly, operating in a new role on the right-hand side of midfield, was impressive, particularly in the first
half and he could have scored after just two minutes when his shot was saved by Gary Cullen after a Oak defender had
sliced a clearance straight to him.
Two minutes later James Hylton shot wide and it was no surprise when Wasps' whirlwind start brought them the opening
goal. Ben Burns, who had set up both early chances, was again the creator, releasing Thorpe who needed one touch
before sliding the ball past Cullen.
Hylton had another effort palmed out by Oak's diminutive goalkeeper and Wayne Whitington headed a Gellatly shot off
the line, but it wasn't all one-way traffic and Scott Kenward had to make two good saves in the first half, blocking
Tony Burnett's shot with his legs and making a more comfortable save to tip another Burnett effort over the bar.
Smith gave George Parsons a new role at centre half when he replaced Andy Rabbetts at half-time after Rabbetts had
come off feeling his troublesome thigh injury.
Ten minutes after the break Wasps doubled their lead with Burns again the creator. His pass set up Raymond who fired
over Cullen and into the roof of the net, a shot a taller goalkeeper might have saved.
Burns was denied the goal he deserved on 65 minutes by the woodwork when his deflected shot hit the crossbar and
five minutes later Burns again turned creator, this time releasing Gellatly who cut inside a defender but shot
against the post.
But the visitors still threatened and pulled a goal back after 73 minutes when Grinstead fell asleep at a corner and
when it was only half-cleared, Hurley rammed the loose ball into the bottom corner.
Wasps closed the door tight at the back after that and neither side created anything of note in the last 15 minutes
as the home side defended what they had.
Wasps suffered their second cup exit in the space of four days at the Beaconsfield on Tuesday night, despite a
brave performance against their first division opponents.
Bob Smith was once again forced to make several changes with Keith Bradshaw, Dave Garrett (ankle) and Kevin Wright
(hamstring) all injured and James Hylton unavailable.
Peter Benton came in for his first appearance of the season down the right and Roger Gualtieri was restored to the
attack alongside Ben Burns.
Wasps created little for the first 20 minutes, but then Burns was off target with a shot from 30 yards before
dragging his effort wide of the post after good work down the left by James Horner.
Wes Tate struck the post for Hailsham who took the lead on 40 minutes when Jon Neal got ahead of his marker to
sidefoot Tate's right-wing cross past Scott Kenward. Once again Grinstead had conceded a goal in the ten minutes
before half-time, an annoying habit they seemed to have picked up so far this season.
Steve Greig was pushed forward to give the attack more height and bite after the interval and for 20 minutes
Grinstead enjoyed their best spell.
Greig should have equalised when Gualtieri pulled the ball back from the by-line, but he shot past the post from
12 yards before flicking Dave Gellatly's cross over the bar.
Gellatly worked tirelessly in midfield and Greig was also impressive, but the equaliser wouldn't come and in the
closing stages Hailsham got back on top.
They made sure of victory in the 79th minute when Stuart Lewis's left-wing free-kick eluded a clutch of defenders
and Scott Kenward as it curled into the far corner of the net.
Not a bad performance by Wasps, but like Saturday it illustrated the gap between Division Two and clubs playing at
a higher level.
Grinstead's hopes of an extended Vase run ended at the first hurdle with a 4-1 defeat by Wessex League Thatcham.
Boss Bob Smith had no complaints about the outcome at Thatcham's well-apppointed Waterside Park. "We were all over the place in the first 30 minutes, we looked a bit overawed and intimidated by the
opposition," he said. "But we had chances, especially after half-time and if we'd taken one or two of them then it would have been
different because they did look a bit vulnerable at the back.
"If we had played to our potential we could have frightened them, but it was nice to test ourselves against a team
of a higher standard and as long as we have learned from the experience it will have been worthwhile."
Thatcham have seven contracted players and operate in the equivalent of County League Division One.
And they could have been in control early on had Rob McIley and Sean Cook not missed great chances.
But an eight-minute delay after linesman Ian Hart had to be replaced after being taken ill allowed Smith to switch
to a more compact 4-4-2 formation and Wasps came more into the game.
But two goals in three minutes before the break put Thatcham in charge.
Slack marking allowed James Green to volley home after 40 minutes.
And three minutes later Steve Cook found the bottom corner with a shot which seemed to go under keeper Scott
Kenward's dive.
Wasps enjoyed their best spell after the interval.
Ben Burns' ambitious overhead kick was held by keeper Alan Mann and James Hylton volleyed wide from a good position.
Keith Bradshaw's injury forced another re-shuffle, but Grinstead continued to threaten and Steve Greig hit the post
from 20 yards while Burns missed what amounted to an open goal in the 73rd minute after a fumble by Mann.
A goal then for Grinstead would have made for an exciting finale.
Instead Thatcham scored twice in the last ten minutes to wrap up their win.
Cook made the most of defensive hesitancy to make it 3-0 and Peter Green's superbly struck shot from 25 yards into
the top corner a couple of minutes later was an outstanding piece of skill.
There was still time for Burns to score his seventh goal in four games after Hylton set him up to earn Grinstead a
deserved consolation.
WASPS moved up to fourth place in County League Division Two after recording their first home win of the season
at East Court on Tuesday night.
Seaford were strong going forward, but Grinstead exploited their weaknesses at the back to record their third
successive league win.
James Hylton gave the home side the lead with a stunning strike on 18 minutes. Ben Burns found him with a
superb crossfield pass and Hylton smashed an angled shot past Micky West from the right-hand corner of the box.
It was 2-0 nine minutes later. Scott Kenward had just made a superb close range save from Steve Loughton and
cleared upfield. The ball skidded off the head of defender Duncan Kneller and Burns controlled it instantly
before firing past West.
Seaford were a threat up front all night and pulled one back after 37 minutes when Steve Lambert's diagonal
ball exposed the home defence and Simon Young gave Kenward no chance from close range.
Young and Loughton went close to equalising in the second half, but Seaford's challenge evaporated after Keith
Bradshaw was allowed to sent a bullet header past West from Dave Garrett's superb free-kick in the 65th minute.
And Burns rounded off an excellent night for Grinstead when he poked home the loose ball in the 89th minute
after Seaford failed to deal with Dave Gellatly's cross. It was the youngster's eighth goal of the season and
sixth in the last six days.
WASPS bowed out of the John O'Hara League Cup at Nyetimber Lane on Saturday, but they were far from disgraced
against their first division opponents.
Grinstead took the confidence from a four-match unbeaten run into the first round tie on the south coast and,
apart from a ten minute spell before half-time when they conceded both goals, they matched their hosts for
long periods.
With manager Bob Smith working abroad, assistant Dave Gellatly took the team and he made two changes to the
team which had secured Grinstead's first league win for 15 years at Oakwood last Tuesday.
Keith Bradshaw returned to the centre of defence while Scott Kenward was back in goal after missing his first
game since signing for the club because of a hand injury.
Kenward didn't need to get his hands dirty too often in the opening half hour when the few chances which were
created were at the other end.
Dave Garrett wasn't far away when he tried his luck from 30 yards in the fourth minute and then Roger
Gualtieri ghosted past his marker but could only direct his shot straight at keeper Wesley Hallett.
Matt Thorpe fired over after combining well with James Hylton and a free-kick from the left-hand edge of the
box by Lee Power wasn't far away. At the other end Kenward's only moment of alarm came when Kevin Wright's
back pass was intercepted by Lee Stephens who shot wide.
Stephens missed an easier chance after 35 minutes as Pagham warmed to their task. Paul Tryon's 25 yarder
bounced awkwardly in front of Kenward who could only parry it to Stephens, but from inside the six yard box
the Pagham forward missed the target.
But a minute later the home side broke the deadlock. Bradshaw was caught in possession and Paul Morey was onto
the loose ball in a flash, running into the box before firing his shot past a helpless Kenward.
As Wasps wobbled, the Lions moved in for the kill and added a crucial second goal just before half-time. The
visitors never cleared their lines after Morey's shot on the turn had come back off the crossbar and after a
scramble in the box Steve Poulton nudged the ball over the line.
There was nothing wrong with the way both sides knocked the ball around and Wasps' passing game certainly
impressed the home fans.
But the goal which would have got them back into the contest after half-time never came, although Grinstead
enjoyed another good spell. Bradshaw should have done better with a free header from Gualtieri's corner but
directed it over the target from eight yards and Hallett had to be alert on 58 minutes when another flag kick
was heading towards goal before the keeper managed to turn it over.
Gellatly introduced all three subs including James Horner whose move from first division Redhill was completed
earlier in the week.
Horner can play either rightback or on the right-hand side of midfield and in 25 minutes he did more than
enough to suggest he could be a useful acquisition to the squad.
Pagham went close to a third when Kenward saved from Stephens with his feet and Kevin Dewey headed wide while
Hylton dragged his shot past the post as Wasps tried to launch a late response.
WASPS finally ended their Oakwood hoodoo on Tuesday night when a second half goal from defender Andy Rabbetts secured their league
first win at Tinsley Lane for 15 years.
Rabbetts lashed a left-foot shot into the roof of the net on 70 minutes after a cross from Dave Garrett had eluded a clutch of Oaks'
defenders.
It was a deserved success for Grinstead who also kept their first clean sheet as they extended their unbeaten run to four games.
James Hylton and Roger Gualtieri both hit the woodwork and although playing three forwards in the first half proved to be only a
partial success, boss Bob Smith will no doubt have been pleased with the much improved defensive performance of his side.
Oakwood's best chances came in the first half. Ex-Wasp Paul Green hit the bar with a 22 yard shot on 27 minutes and Chris Belgrave
saw his effort cleared off the line by Chris Raymond after he'd beaten two defenders.
Phil Meakin made his first appearance of the season in goal after Scott Kenward pulled out with a hand injury.
MISSED chances proved costly as Grinstead were held to a disappointing draw in last Friday's County League match at East Court.
Wasps trailed 1-0 at the break, but a third goal in two games from James Hylton just after half-time was just the boost his side needed.
Bob Smith's men went on to dominate the rest of the game, but despite producing their best football of the season so far they failed to
turn their superiority into goals.
Grinstead at least stretched their unbeaten run to three games and Smith believes his side are getting closer to the level of performance
they achieved at the end of last season.
Hylton and midfielder Steve Greig both started their first games and only the holidaying Dave Gellatly was missing from what probably would
be his first choice midfield.
Smith said: "I'm dissapointed that we didn't win because we had the chances, but in the second half we were more like our old selves and
there is definitely more to come from us.
"Six points from six games isn't the start we would have wanted, but there is a long way to go and the league looks very open. Once we get
on a roll like we did last season I think we will be hard to stop."
Grinstead's first Friday night game for over three years attracted a crowd of over 200 but Wasps struggled to settle early on and Heath,
who broke quickly and had plenty of pace down the flanks, went ahead after 20 minutes in slightly fortutious circumstances.
Steve Wright broke from midfield and his 20 yard shot rebounded off the post and hit goalkeeper Scott Kenward on the back before rolling
into the net.
Apart from a 30 yard shot by Matt Thorpe and a flick from Roger Gualtieri, which were both dealt with comfortably by goalkeeper James
McGrath, Wasps offered little threat in the first half.
But it was a different story after the break as they stepped up a gear, began winning more possession and putting the visitors' defence
under pressure.
Three minutes into the second period they levelled when Dave Garrett's quick free-kick caught Heath napping and Hylton latched onto the ball
before volleying it past McGrath.
Garrett, starting his first game of the season down the right, then wasted a glorious chance after Greig's pass had put him clean through,
but McGrath stood his ground and blocked the shot with his legs.
The influential Thorpe then created a chance for Hylton but he fired into the side netting from the right-hand corner of the six yard box
and as Grinstead piled on the pressure Simon Rolfe scooped a close range volley wide following Thorpe's inswinging corner.
Wasps looked more composed at the back and Kenward's only second half activity was to deal with back passes as Grinstead kept pushing
forward.
Keith Bradshaw came off the bench to force a fingertip save from McGrath after hitting a low drive from 30 yards that was creeping inside the
far post and from the corner Heath eventually cleared their lines after several players had tried to get a decisive touch inside the six yard
box.
WASPS staged a remarkable fightback to chalk up their first County League win of the season at Wealden on Monday.
Trailing 3-2 with seven minutes left, James Hylton equalised with his second goal of the match before fellow substitute Ben
Burns fired in a cracking winner two minutes from time.
But there was more drama to come when goalkeeper Scott Kenward was shown the red card by referee Carl Brook for comments he
made to a linesman after the final whistle.
Manager Bob Smith was delighted with the result but he knows that Grinstead's performance, particularly at the back, will need
to improve if they are to sustain a climb up the second division table.
Had they taken their chances, Grinstead would have been out of sight at half-time. But striker Richard Whale's lack of confidence
in front of goal was evident as he wasted two great opportunities and all Wasps had to show for their dominance was a 14th minute
volley from Matt Thorpe who found space at the far post to score his second goal of the season from Ian Smith's diagonal pass.
Smith, a left back who was with Dulwich Hamlet last season, impressed in the first half of his debut, but Grinstead's defending
in the second half left a lot to be desired.
Wealden's long ball tactics continually exposed the visitors and two well-taken goals in three minutes from Darren Brown and then
Lee Sale, who netted the winner in Wealden's 1-0 cup victory at East Court last week, turned the contest on it's head.
Hylton was making his first appearance of the season but it didn't take last year's top scorer long to make an impact after he
came on as a 61st minute substitute.
With his first touch Hylton guided a header from Kevin Wright's teasing left-wing cross into the far corner, but Wealden were
back in front within five minutes when more poor marking allowed a suspiciously offside Brown to sidefoot in his second after
Wasps failed to deal with Daniel Merry's header.
Kenward made a smart save from Sale's volley after 81 minutes before more poor defending, this time by Wealden, gave Grinstead
a lifeline two minutes later. Merry's header to keeper Neil Linstrem had too much power on it and when Linstrem could only parry
the ball, Burns nipped in to shoot goalwards and Hylton made sure it crossed the line.
Suddenly it was the home side who looked vulnerable and with two minutes to go, as their defence backed off, Burns scored a
cracking winner from just outside the box, his curling shot into the top left-hand corner giving Linstrem no chance.
Even then Wasps nearly tossed away three hard-earned points when Sale volleyed wide of the post after again getting space in
the box.
A relieved Smith said: "I don't think they could have complained had we been 4-0 up at half-time, but we got caught square
too often at the back and nearly paid the price.
"But James and Ben scored three cracking goals between them and having James back not only gives us more of a threat up front I
think it lifts the whole side as well."
WASPS twice came from behind to earn a useful point in 90 degree heat at Culver Road on Saturday.
Both sides were out on their feet by the end, but if anything Grinstead finished the stronger side and got the point they deserved
when midfielder George Parsons, who has making his debut, crossed from the left to set up fellow substitute Ben Burns for a
well-taken close range equaliser.
Lancing had gone in front on the stroke of half-time through Steve Gurney, but Wasps levelled after 52 minutes when Keith Bradshaw
scored his first goal since December 1998 when he headed home Roger Gualtieri's corner.
Lancing hit the post twice before a shot from Jamie Cole, which took a big deflection off Chris Raymond, restored their lead with
20 minutes to go.
WASPS' disappointing start to the new season continued on Tuesday when they bowed out of the RUR Cup at the first round stage.
Something had to give in a match between two sides without a win this season and it was the hardworking visitors who prevailed
thanks to a 30th-minute goal from striker Lee Sale who turned in a right-wing cross from Daniel Merry.
The first goal was always going to be important and it was no surprise that Sale's strike gave Wealden renewed confidence.
Wasps saw plenty of the ball but the end product, in terms of shots on target, was badly lacking and Wealden keeper Neil Linstrem's
only second half save was to keep out substitute Ben Burns' deflected effort.
Manager Bob Smith plans to restore Roger Gualtieri to the attack for Saturday's Division Two trip to Lancing.
And there was some good news for the boss today when top scorer James Hylton declared himself available from next week after
finishing cricket commitments. He could line-up alongside Gualtieri when Grinstead visit Wealden in the league on Bank Holiday
Monday.
WASPS never fully recovered from going 2-0 down after 23 minutes as they slumped to a second home league defeat in the space of
four days on Saturday.
The good news for boss Bob Smith was his side's much improved attacking performance, but more bad mistakes at the back were
punished by the visitors' lively front three.
Oak went ahead after just three minutes when Junior Lamont was left with time and space to head home Ivan Mainprize's cross.
And it was 2-0 midway through the half although all credit on this occasion must go to the visitors. Jamie Harman's reverse pass
released Mainprize and his first-time cross was converted by Tony Burnett for a well-worked goal.
Oak keeper Gary Cullen turned Ben Burns' shot around the post as Wasps finally got up a head of steam and the home side pulled
one back ten minutes before half-time when Andy Rabbetts, who had stayed upfield after a corner, fastened onto a loose ball to
fire a 20 yard shot into the bottom corner.
Cullen denied Matt Thorpe and Roger Gualtieri at the start of the second half, but just when it looked as if Grinstead might get
back into the match they conceded a sloppy third goal when Harman's long ball skimmed off the head of Scott Woolley and Burnett
raced through to make it 3-1.
Wasps were unlucky not to pull a goal back after 71 minutes when, in the same attack, Thorpe hit the post, Richard Whale's
follow-up effort was cleared off the line and Gualtieri struck the bar before Thorpe's effort was grabbed by the grateful
Cullen.
But Oak still threatened on the counter-attack and Tony Marks and Burnett both struck the woodwork either side of a second for
the home side on 77 minutes when Gualtieri knocked Dave Gellatly's cross back into the box and Thorpe pounced from close range.
WASPS produced a disappointing performance in their first home game of the season when they went down 2-0 to Shoreham in Tuesday night's
County League Division Two game at East Court.
Manager Bob Smith apologised to supporters after the game after his side had rarely troubled Shoreham goalkeeper Terry Fox.
He said: "We had a lot of possession but we just didn't do anything with it. We didn't offer much of a threat up front and looked
uncertain at the back.
"I feel sorry for our supporters, all I can say is that there will be changes and a vast improvement on Saturday against Mile Oak."
Grinstead's best chance came after 66 minutes when substitute Richard Whale sidefooted over from 15 yards after a neat move had opened up
the visitors' defence.
It was a rare moment of excitement for the crowd of nearly 150 who saw their team fall behind on 17 minutes when Simon Rolfe was caught
in possession on the halfway line and Warren Levy raced through to score, even though Scott Kenward did well to parry his well-struck
effort.
Martin O'Donnell was left unmarked to head home a free-kick with 11 minutes left.
A SUPERBLY executed free kick from midfielder Phil Thompson earned Wasps a hard-fought point in their County League opener on Saturday.
East Preston have never beaten Wasps in 12 meetings and this was only their second draw, but there is no doubt that it was the least the
side relegated from Division One last season deserved.
David Walker's 16th minute opener was no more than they merited and only the excellence of goalkeeper Scott Kenward kept Grinstead in the
game for the first hour.
But they were thrown a lifeline in the 62nd minute after Joe Comber's foul on Andy Stonley. Thompson stepped up and curled the ball into
the bottom corner from 25 yards.
It was one of the few shots on target Grinstead had and boss Bob Smith acknowledged afterwards that his side were slightly fortunate to
leave The Lashmar with something to show for their endeavours.
He said: "We didn't play well really. We couldn't keep possession for long enough and their front two gave us problems all afternoon.
"It was definitely a point gained and there is a lot for us to work on, but at the end of the season we might look on it as one of our best
results because I think they will do quite well."
In fairness to Smith his team selection was affected by the late withdrawls through injury of Dave Garrett and Kevin Wright while James
Hylton's cricket commitments meant last season's joint-top scorer was also absent which meant the untried partnership of Ben Burns and Lee
Power played together up front where they seldom received good service from midfield.
With Keith Bradshaw trying to gain match fitness in the reserves, the new look back three of Scott Woolley, who was recovering from
tonsilitis, Simon Rolfe and Andy Rabbetts found it hard to contain Walker and his equally lively strike partner Matt Huckett.
Cumber had already forced a full-stretch save by Kenward when EP broke the deadlock. Cumber's low shot was parried by Kenward, but instead
of booting the loose ball to safety Kenward tried to pick out Matt Thorpe and his pass was intercepted by Cumber who crossed to the far post
where WALKER had a free header.
Andy Stonley and Power threatened the home goal, but Kenward remained the busier keeper and he denied Terry Withers on the stroke of
half-time while Rolfe was booked for bringing down Huckett as he threatened to get clear.
The home side were on top again after the break, but out of nothing Thompson's free-kick restored parity.
Smith replaced Power with Richard Whale for the last ten minutes and after Kenward had denied Andy Smart and Chris Jack, Wasps' beanpole
striker almost grabbed an injury time winner for Wasps after a mistake by keeper Brett Symonds. But with the ball loose in front of goal,
Whale couldn't control his shot and it went wide.
Wasps' poor run continued in a game where both teams looked as if playing football was really the last thing they
wanted to be doing at this stage of the season. Wasps only just about managed to get the right number of players
onto the pitch and found, once again, that the rock hard ground was the real winner of the game.
Wasps have now gone three games without scoring a goal, and once again rarely threatened a very ordinary Seaford
defence. Seaford were also struggling to break Wasps down, but at least they had a couple of young forwards who
were prepared to take defenders on to try and make some space in the penalty area. Wasps hardly ever got behind
the Seaford defence and didn't force the Seaford goalkeeper into any serious work.
The only goal of the game came half-way through the second-half when one of the young Seaford forwards turned our
defence and shot across Kelly Jones with a clean strike. Wasps pushed players forward but all we did was hit high
crosses - I can only remember one movement where we got a player running at pace into the penalty area with the
ball. We were hoping the Seaford defence would make a mistake with our crosses, but they didn't.
A special word to Seaford. they produced a programme for this reserve team game - the first reserve team
programme I have seen all season. Well done, Seaford.
Team: Kelly Jones, Peter Benton, Scott Woolley, Simon Larking, Rob Turner, Mark Hillen, Darren Hall, Tony
Langridge, Bobby Wallis, Ray Collier and Mark Whale with Stuart Moseley coming on for the last 15 minutes.
In their last home match of the season Wasps found Lewes fielding a very different team to the one we played
against a couple of weeks ago, and will be a bit disappointed not to have squeezed a win. As against Crawley Down
last Saturday we didn't carry a great threat in the opposition penalty area. The bone hard pitch was again the
greatest influence on the game. Although both teams tried to play football it was inevitable that the ball spent
a lot of time trying to leave the earth's atmosphere.
The first half saw both teams having reasonable spells of pressure, but there was hardly a clear shot on goal:
neither goalkeeper had to work too hard to keep a clean sheet. Lewes did hit the top of the bar from a free-kick,
but the shot was never going to go in. At the other end of the pitch Damien Cherry's strong running carried a
threat, as it did to greater effect in the second half.
The second-half saw Lewes enjoying more of the play in the first 15 minutes, but again without threatening to
break through, except when the EG linesman failed to put up his flag for offside. As the game came to its final
20 minutes there were a few more chances. Initially it was Lewes who snatched at a couple of half-chances but
increasingly the chances fell to Wasps. Paul McGee's turn and centre was headed over by Rob Whiting, with Damien
Cherry probably in a better position to head home. Moments later Rob Whiting found himself in the 6 yard box with
only the keeper to beat but he scuffed the shot. And Ray Collier found his lob over the keeper just bouncing the
wrong side of the far post. But to be honest neither side looked as if they would score if they had carried on
playing all night.
Team: Phil Meakin, Rob Turner, Dave Barham, Matt Thorpe, Scott Woolley, Roger Dart, Damien Cherry, Tony
Langridge, Paul McGee, Colin Brown and Peter Benton with all 3 subs - Rob Whiting, Ray Collier and Elvis Lynn
- coming on in the second half.
On yet another bone hard pitch Wasps suffered their fourth consecutive defeat. But this time we had much of the
play without really threatening the Crawley Down defence.
Wasps started brightly before Crawley Down had a good spell for 15 minutes during the first half. Kelly Jones
nevertheless had little to do except for one good save with his feet. The last 10 minutes of the half saw Wasps
back in control. Matt Garrett looked as if he must score from close in, but a Crawley Down player managed to nick
the ball away just in tome.
The second half again saw Wasps start brightly but 10 minutes into the half Crawley Down took the lead. We
struggled to clear and failed to prevent a cross coming in. A Crawley Down player was left with a clear header
which Kelly could do little about. For the rest of the half we played the ball round quite well but there was
little threat inside the penalty area. Marc Tramontin was able to make a couple of runs at the defence but
eventually found too many bodies in the way. As we pushed forward Crawley Down might have got a second but Kelly
kept them out. And with a couple of minutes to go Phil Thompson's dipping shot was turned over by the Crawley
Down keeper.
Team: Kelly Jones, Like Dunstan, Scott Woolley, Peter Benton, Rob Turner, Terry Wright, Marc Tramontin, Roger
Dart, Bobby Wallis, Matt Garrett and Tony Langridge with Daniel Medcalf and Phil Thompson coming on in the second
half.
Any remaining chances of Wasps gaining promotion probably disappeared in this defeat to the team that will
probably win the league. The game came only three days after a hard game at Lewes (who will probably win the
other promotion place).
On a very windy afternoon Wasps were slow out of the blocks and within 15 minutes of the start Eastbourne Town
were 3-0 up, and looking as if they were going to score a hatful. But we slightly reorganised and began to have
our moments. Chris Edwards couldn't quite get a shot on target after he had done the hard work and shortly after
Marc Tramontin was brought down for a penalty. Kelly Jones came up from the other end of the pitch and blasted
the penalty home (I wonder who was the last keeper to score for the Wasps?). Eastbourne then scored a fourth and
Tony Langridge came close with a lob that just went over the bar.
The second half was much more even - if anything Wasps had most of the play. A few chances came and went - Matt
Garrett was a touch away from heading over the goalkeeper and Roger Dart also came close. At the other end an
Eastbourne free kick on the edge of Wasps' penalty area was blasted home for number 5, and both Darren Hall and
Simon Larking came close to scoring an own goal. But Wasps continued to push forward and have more than our fair
share of the game.
Team: Kelly Jones, Luke Dunstan, Darren Hall, Terry Wright, Roger Dart, Chris Edwards, Mark Whale, Tony
Langridge, Bobby Wallis, Marc Tramontin and Matt Garrett with Damien Cherry and Simon Larking coming on as
second-half substitutes.
On a hard pitch and against aggressive opponents Wasps were swept aside. But the chief memory of the game was the
serious injury sustained by Ben Alexander shortly after half-time. As a result of a strong tackle, but not a foul
tackle, we rather fear that Ben's leg was broken. The game itself was held-up for about 25 minutes while the
local ambulance men saw to Ben, and took him to hospital in Brighton.
The score by this time was 3-0 and many Wasps' players felt very uncomfortable about continuing the game. But we
did. Lewes scored a fourth goal shortly after the restart, but Wasps had their best spell of the game in the last
20 minutes, forcing several corners. Marc Tramontin's lob in the last minute needed an excellent defensive header
to stop a goal.
In the first half, before Ben's accident, Lewes had most of the game - and found many of the free-kicks going in
their favour. They had an early penalty but Kelly Jones kept the shot out. But soon after Lewes took the lead
with a long range shot that Kelly will be disappointed about letting in. Two further crisp finishes saw it to 3-0
at half-time. Wasps were unable to put any sustained pressure onto the Lewes defence, and the best moments came
when Mark Whale found space on the right-hand side. Both Phil Hayward and Terry Wright were injured during the
first half and had to be substituted.
But what stays in the mind is Ben Alexander's injury.
Team: Kelly Jones, Peter Benton, Darren Hall, Terry Wright, Scott Woolley, George Parsons, Mark Whale, Tony
Langridge, Phil Thompson, Ben Alexander and Phil Hayward with all 3 subs - Daniel Medcalf, Marc Tramontin and Ben
Burns being used.
Wasps' trip to Ringmer was always going to be a difficult game, and that is precisely how it turned out. We were
only in the game for the first 20 minutes, and can have no complaints about the final score-line.
Wasps kicked down the notorious Ringmer slope in the first-half. The first 15 minutes were very even with neither
side able to open up the defences. However it was Wasps who had the first clear chance when Marc Tramontin's
first touch let him down when he was clear with only the goalkeeper to beat. Ringmer began to get into their
stride, with the movement of their forwards beginning to cause us one or two anxieties. But after 30 minutes it
was Wasps who took the lead. A short corner on the left saw Phil Thompson hit a deep cross to the far post for
George Parsons to rise above everybody to head home. But the lead only lasted 5 minutes as Ringmer's passing game
opened us up twice before half-time. Crisp clean shots gave Kelly Jones no chance in the Wasps goal and we were
2-1 down.
Straight into the second-half we conceded a third as Scott Woolley couldn't clear a bouncing ball in the penalty
area and a Ringmer forward stole it off him. And on 60 minutes 3-1 became 4-1 after another series of passes was
matched by a precise shot past Kelly Jones. For a while it looked as though Ringmer might swamp us. The cross-bar
came to our rescue and Kelly produced a fine diving save as well. But in the last 15 minutes we pushed hard and
took the game to Ringmer. We didn't seriously threaten the Ringmer goal, but we spent most of the time in their
half. We managed to lose three of Ringmer's footballs as our shots went high over the Ringmer goal into a
neighbouring garden - where we understand that the householder refuses to return the balls. He gives them to
local schools.
No complaints at the score-line. Let's hope that Wasps can get back into their stride. Let's also hope that we
can learn from the movement that Ringmer's players showed us.
Team: Kelly Jones, Luke Dunstan, Scott Woolley, Peter Benton, Marc Tramontin, George Parsons, Mark Whale,
John Richardson, Bobby Wallis, Ben Alexander and Phil Thompson. Chris Arrow and Rob Turner came on as second-half
substitutes.
Away to a poor Bexhill team Wasps had no problems romping to a big victory to keep the promotion bid on target.
However we cannot expect such an easy game in any of our remaining fixtures.
The game didn't start very well for Wasps as Simon Larking's injured ankle let him down with his first touch -
and within 2 minutes of the start Matt Garrett replaced him. The first 10 minutes were fairly even but we began
to gain control thereafter. Matt Garrett opened up the Bexhill defence, and after one shot was cleared John
Richardson picked his spot to give us the lead. Minutes later another of Mark Whale's exhilarating runs down the
right wing opened up the defence leaving Ben Alexander with a simple tap-in. And soon after a series of passes
left Matt Garrett with a clear run on goal to make it 3-0.
The second-half saw Bexhill start with a flurry as Wasps made a very sleepy start. Wasps survived and again took
control. Matt Garrett lobbed the goalkeeper for number 4, and another series of passes left John Richardson with
number 5. A bad Bexhill mistake let in Mark Whale for a deserved goal. And there were still 25 minutes left.
However Wasps then decided that we didn't have to play with any discipline, we could pass the ball to Bexhill and
we didn't have to chase back. And in a spell of 10 minutes Bexhill could have scored 4 or 5 times. Kelly Jones
saved a penalty and shortly after was at full stretch to turn a shot round the post. He also parried a fierce
shot onto a post and luckily saw the ball bounce out. 2 or 3 other times Bexhill got into good positions in our
penalty area but hit the ball over the top. And they did eventually get the ball into the net but only to be
ruled offside (quite rightly). We then managed to re-organise and Ben Alexander got the 7th just before time
after the goalkeeper couldn't hold a shot.
Team: Kelly Jones, Luke Dunstan, Rob Turner, Simon Larking, Terry Wright, John Richardson, Mark Whale, Tony
Langridge, Bobby Wallis, George Parsons, Ben Alexander and Matt Garrett.
After the disappointment of last week's soft defeat against Oakwood, and then the Cup defeat against Midhurst in
mid-week, Wasps showed great spirit and character to defeat one of the main rivals for the Reserve section title.
Ringmer showed a lot of skill, and will continue to be at near the top of the table, but today it was Wasps who
took the points.
With a strong wind blowing down the pitch, and the pitch drying out, it wasn't always easy to control the ball -
but as so often in these conditions both teams played much better when they were kicking into the wind. Wasps
faced the wind in the first half and for the first 10 minutes Ringmer had much of the play, but without producing
anything in the Wasps penalty area. And from the first real attack Wasps took the lead. Mark Whale opened up the
Ringmer defence down the right-hand side and his cross was rolled home by John Richardson - in John's first game
for some while. Wasps kept the ball on the floor, while at the back Terry Wright kept everything tight and
composed. One or two inswinging corners caused most problems. But with 5 minutes to half-time John Richardson's
nicely weighted pass got Ben Alexander in behind the Ringmer defence: Ben's pace kept him ahead of the defenders
and his low shot put us 2-0 ahead. Unfortunately within 15 seconds Ringmer had got back into the game. Straight
from the kick-off a Ringmer player floated the ball over Kelly Jones who was stranded on the edge of his 6 yard
box.
With the wind in their faces it was Ringmer who made most of the running in the second-half. They kept winning
the 50:50 balls and looked to spread the ball wide. Again their threat in the penalty area didn't compare with
their movement outside the box. Wasps conceded one or two free-kicks close to goal, but Kelly hardly had to make
a save. As Ringmer began to push forward for the equaliser our front two of Ben Alexander and Matt Garrett began
to find some room. It looked as if Ben had scored a third when his fierce shot hit the underside of the bar, but
the ball refused to go in. Ringmer's last chance came with a shot that would have gone in if it had hit the
target. Fortunately for Wasps it went wide, and we had held on.
Team: Kelly Jones, Luke Dunstan, Darren Hall, Terry Wright, Phil Hayward, Tony Langridge, John Richardson,
Mark Whale, Bobby Wallis, Ben Alexander and Mark Hillen. Rob Turner and Matt Garrett came on in the second-half.
Wasps lost their 100% home league record against a very ordinary Oakwood team. Oakwood had just 11 players and
one or two of were on the elderly side. Wasps themselves had lost 4 or 5 players from their first choice line-up
and it showed, especially near the Oakwood goal where we never seemed to have enough players wanting to attack
the ball.
Wasps started brightly enough, and we found lots of space down our left-hand side. But after 10 minutes and in
their first attack Oakwood scored. Wasps failed to clear a cross, and the ball ran loose to an Oakwood forward
who made no mistake. For the next 30 minutes it was 80% Wasps. Chances came and went and on another day Dave
Garrett would have marked his return from injury with a first half hat-trick. And then 5 minutes from half-time
Oakwood mounted their second attack. A free-kick was conceded: the kick into the our area was headed on with an
Oakwood player in oceans of space. 2-0.
Oakwood realised that they had serious chances of winning the game, and they tightened up their left-hand side,
where we had many inroads in the first-half. We did try and play football but once again there was no real threat
in the Oakwood penalty area. After 65 minutes we gave ourselves a glimmer of a chance. From Dave Garrett's
free-kick Tony Langridge headed home, but within 10 minutes Oakwood scored their third goal as we gave the ball
away too easily on the half-way line. And that really was that.
Team: Kelly Jones, Chris Edwards, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Rob Turner, Phil Thompson, Dave Garrett, Tony
Langridge, Bobby Wallis, Ben Alexander and Matt Garrett. Phil Hayward, Terry Wright and Rob Whiting all came on
as second-half subs.
Away to strengthened Newhaven team Wasps were disappointed to drop more points as we work through our long list
of fixtures. The strong and gusty wind had a large influence on the game, especially in the second-half.
Wasps kicked into the wind in the first half and we tried to keep the ball on the ground. The first 15 minutes
saw us doing this successfully and we took the lead after 10 minutes. George Parsons got into the Newhaven
penalty area wide on the right. He drove the ball goalwards - none of us were sure if it was a shot. But the wind
helped to make it an excellent pass for Damien Cherry, who had the simple job of putting the ball into the net.
Newhaven began to use the wind to push us back and after a couple of corners they drew level. A centre came in
from the right which Simon Larking shaped to head clear: but he chose to use his feet to clear the ball and only
succeeded in knocking it to a Newhaven player 10 yards out. Kelly Jones had no chance. But the last 15 minutes of
the half saw us back playing the ball on the floor and getting round the back of the Newhaven defence. Damien
Cherry saw one fierce shot turned away by the Newhaven keeper.
The second half saw Wasps with the wind and in the first minute Phil Thompson's close range shot was again
well-saved by the keeper. Damien Cherry looked to have headed us in front from a free-kick but, not for the first
time in the afternoon, the linesman's flag went up very quickly. Damien also had a free-kick tipped over the bar
in this opening 15 minutes of the second-half. And we then thought that all we had to do was bang the ball
forward - hard and high - all the time. We stopped passing and keeping the ball on the floor, and our threat
began to disappear. And as the half wore on it was Newhaven who looked the more likely to score. Indeed it took
an excellent save from Kelly Jones 2 minutes from the end to keep us level.
Team: Kelly Jones, Peter Benton, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Chris Edwards, Phil Thompson, Mark Whale, George
Parsons, James Horner, Ben Alexander and Damien Cherry with Rob Turner appearing for the last 20 minutes.
After their poorest performance of the season Wasps can consider themselves very fortunate to have taken all
three points. In only the second league game in 10 weeks, and on a heavy East Court pitch, the Wasps players
looked heavy-legged and one-paced - there was very little sharpness of movement, either with the ball or off the
ball. Wasps' players ran into Redhill players, passes and headers went astray, mis-kicks were common and all
against a willing, but not especially dangerous, Redhill side.
The first 10 minutes saw Wasps chasing shadows as Redhill controlled the game and moved the ball round with some
neat passes. Wasps always seemed to be 3 yards off the opposition. Fortunately for Wasps Redhill did not carry
any serious forward threat and Kelly Jones was hardly tested in this opening phase. We of course attacked every
now and again but without any serious threat, but at least we began to deny Redhill some of the space we had
originally given them. And after 25 minutes we took the lead. Terry Wright's corner from the right was only
half-cleared. The ball went back out to Terry and from his cross Bobby Wallis steered his header into the far
corner. Wasps now enjoyed their best spell of the game and 10 minutes later we had a golden opportunity to
stretch the lead. Ben Alexander was knocked off the ball in the penalty area and the referee gave the penalty.
Ben's kick was too high and gave the goalkeeper time to turn the ball round for a corner. Over came the corner,
straight onto Darren Hall's head. But the header went up instead of down and flew over the cross-bar. And Wasps
should have had a second penalty when Phil Thompson was fouled - but the man in black thought otherwise.
Surely the second-half would be better? Redhill began to look a bit sharper in their forward line, and we again
gave them ample opportunity to play some football. Wasps conceded an unnecessary free-kick wide on the right.
Over it came: no clean clearance and a Redhill forward equalised with a shot across Kelly. We kept trying, but
players from both sides were finding the heavy pitch wouldn't allow the ball to run: the ball tended to get stuck
under players' feet and the passing began to deteriorate even more. Roger Dart's ever-youthful legs were brought
into action and Roger was able to get a bit of life into the game. The equally youthful Bobby Wallis chased a
pass down to the Redhill goal-line and pulled the ball back to Ben Alexander. Ben was facing away from goal, but
managed to turn and hit the cleanest shot of the afternoon past the Redhill goalkeeper. Redhill kept going and
had two or three shots from long range which flew straight at Kelly. And finally the ref brought it to an end and
we could drag those heavy legs off the pitch.
The one player who seemed immune to the heavy leggedness was Peter Benton who demonstrated that attacking the
ball at pace, rather than waiting for it to arrive, was one way of coping with the conditions - as we know
Peter's pace in defence is such a strong feature of his play.
Team: Kelly Jones, Peter Benton, Chris Edwards, Simon Larking, Terry Wright, Phil Thompson, Darren Hall, Phil
Hayward, Bobby Wallis, Ben Alexander and Damien Cherry with Roger Dart and Rob Turner coming on in the
second-half.
A second half goal from midfielder George Parsons earned them a 1-0 win over Whitehawk's second string and put
them in the last four for the first time in 13 years.
With the first team's home league game against Shinewater called off because of a waterlogged pitch, reserve team
boss Ian Lindsey put Kevin Wright and Dave Gellatly on the bench as cover, but he relied on the team which had
defeated three Division Three sides on the way to the semis and they did him proud.
There was plenty of passion from both teams and Whitehawk made the better start. But chances were rare in the
first half although the home side should have scored when they missed a free header at a corner while two long
distance efforts from Phil Thompson were the best Wasps could muster in reply.
In the second half Wasps had the blustery wind at their backs and within five minutes of a re-start Sam Bettridge
was denied by a last-ditch clearance as he lined-up a shot. From the corner Hawks failed to clear their lines as
Ben Alexander threatened and Parsons thumped home the loose ball to put Grinstead in front.
Whitehawk rallied strongly, but goalkeeper Kelly Jones wasn't called into serious action on too many occasions as
a defence well marshalled by the returning Peter Benton and experienced Simon Larking held firm.
For all their huff and puff, Whitehawk failed to create a single chance and Bettridge missed a late opportunity
to put the tie beyond them when he blazed over with only the goalkeeper to beat.
With the Bexhill pitch in surprisingly good condition we started the match with both the rain and the fierce wind
at our back. Bexhill struggled to clear the ball and we were obviously under instruction not to shoot at every
opportunity, but to try and pass the ball around. Once or twice it seemed as if it was worth the shot, but we
refused to do so. Bexhill broke out once or twice with some patient football, but their main activity was trying
to stop us getting too near their goal. Consequently they gave away four of five free-kicks close to their penalty
area. And from one of these Terry Wright's kick was turned in by Phil Thompson at the far post to put us 1-0 up.
The rain kept falling, the wind kept blowing and then after 25 minutes a couple of tiles from the roof of the
stand blew onto the pitch. The referee decided that he could not risk it happening again and called the game off -
nothing to do with the condition of the pitch.
Mind you after we had got changed the heavens opened and I have little doubt that, without the tiles, the game
would never have finished anyway.
Team: Kelly Jones, Luke Dunstan, Chris Edwards, Terry Wright, George Parsons, Phil Thompson, Damien Cherry, Tom
Butcher, Bobby Wallis, Ben Alexander and Mark Whale were the lucky players to enjoy the rain and the wind.
In an excellent game on the season's first real mud-bath at East Court, Wasps came through this 4th round cup tie
in reasonably comfortable style. In the quarter-finals we will be away to either Ifield or Chichester City
Reserves.
On a murky afternoon we started in a very positive way and were soon causing problems in the Uckfield defence. No
open goals were missed but there were several times where we were just a pass away from a clear chance. The best
moment came as Chris Edwards ran strongly through the middle, played a nice one-two and then found the Uckfield
goalkeeper just turning the ball round the post. But we didn't get the goal and gradually Uckfield came into the
game. Kelly Jones looked to have given Uckfield a goal when his own poor clearance left him stranded on the edge
of his area. The Uckfield lob was on target but Kelly's rarely seen sprinting ability saw him get back to clear the
ball left-footed just before it went over the line. And it was Kelly again with 2 excellent saves in the 5 minutes
before half-time that kept Uckfield out.
Wasps started the second half in a positive way and on 55 minutes we took the lead. With the pitch turning even
more muddy it determination to get the ball was becoming important. A scramble in the Uckfield penalty area saw
both Bobby Wallis and Chris Edwards pressuring the Uckfield defenders. Eventually the ball squirmed loose to Phil
Thompson who thumped the ball in from about 15 yards. For a while Uckfield were rattled but an unnecessary
free-kick 30 yards out brought Uckfield an equaliser. Kelly could only knock the free-kick straight up in the air
and an Uckfield forward had the simplest of tasks to knock the ball in. Play now went from end to end as both
teams played with the sort of passion that good cup matches can generate. The mud got heavier, and as always seems
to happen in such circumstances players seemed happy to run through the thickest mud with the ball. And with 15
minutes left George Parsons' strength and determination won him the ball just inside the Uckfield half: his nicely
weighted pass found Phil Thompson striding onto the penalty area and Phil's shot flew across the goalkeeper into
the bottom corner for the lead. As Uckfield pushed forward they began to leave holes at the back, and with more
composure in front of goal we should have scored more. But with 5 minutes to go we did make the game safe. A
free-kick played wide to Damien Cherry. His pass bounced up off an Uckfield defender to Sam Bettridge who
controlled the ball on his chest, turned and thumped his left-foot shot high into the net.
As I have said an excellent game to watch, and one where Wasps showed more passion than we have seen for a few
weeks. Let's get the same feeling into the league games - still 18 of those to play.
Team: Kelly Jones, Luke Dunstan, Darren Hall, Terry Wright, Chris Edwards, George Parsons, Tom Butcher, Phil
Thompson, Bobby Wallis, Sam Bettridge and Damien Cherry with Mark Whale and Ben Alexander joining in the mud-bath
in the second half.
Wasps went down to their first league defeat of the season, and have only themselves to blame. Eastbourne had a
bare 11 players, with one or two obviously nowhere near fit enough - but we kept handing them silly goals to
keep them interested in the game.
We looked in command from the opening minutes, but found ourselves a goal down after 5 minutes. An Eastbourne
player was allowed to run a long way with the ball: his cross-shot was only half-saved by Dave Tidy and the ball
was promptly put into our net. For a while we looked a bit flustered, but we again began to control the game.
After 15 minutes some crisp passes allowed Phil Thompson into the penalty area, where he was fouled twice with
the referee trying to play the advantage. Eventually the penalty was awarded and Sam Bettridge scored. We now
began to spray the ball wide to both wings and we kept getting behind an increasingly rattled Eastbourne defence
- it was only a matter of time before we took the lead. But in the last minute a long ball into our defence saw
Dave Tidy and Simon Larking converging on the ball and leaving it to each other. Guess who got the ball? The
Eastbourne forward who must have thought it was already Christmas again.
And things got worse. Within a couple of minutes of the re-start we were 3-1 down as we failed to clear and
Eastbourne had three players queuing up to score. So we rolled the sleeves up and Ben Alexander's tenacity in
the penalty area was followed by a fierce shot to make it 3-2. Only to be followed by an Eastbourne free-kick
which saw all the Wasps defenders glued to the floor while an Eastbourne player was allowed to place his header.
Wasps then brought on an extra forward, Mark Whale, as we looked to get back in the game. And within a couple of
minutes Mark got down to the bye-line and his centre was turned in by Sam Bettridge. And the second-half was
still only half-way through when we equalised at 4-4. Again Mark Whale was involved and Damien Cherry was able
to shoot home via the underside of the bar. Surely now we would settle down. And it should have been our game.
But the Eastbourne goalkeeper made two or three good saves: Dave Tidy also saved well from a header as we got
caught out. But it was all Wasps. And then came the final gift: we tried to play the ball out of defence, but
the last pass went straight to an Eastbourne player. He made no mistake. And that was that.
Team: Dave Tidy, Scott Woolley, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Rob Turner, Phil Thompson, Tom Butcher, George
Parsons, Ben Alexander, Sam Bettridge and Damien Cherry with Mark Whale, Bobby Wallis and Kelly Jones coming on
in the second-half.
Playing their first game for 3 weeks Wasps reserves made rather harder work than they needed in this Sussex
Intermediate Cup third round match - against our third County League division 3 opponents of the season.
Wasps opened very brightly and within the first minute Simon Larking really should have scored when he had only
the goalkeeper to beat following a corner. And two or three other reasonable chances followed in the opening 5
minutes - Hurstpierpoint's defence at that stage were being turned at will. It appeared that Hurstpierpoint had
survived the opening pressure when Wasps did indeed take the lead after 15 minutes. Ben Alexander did well to
win the ball near the corner flag and knocked the ball back to Damien Cherry on the touch-line. What happened
next was either sheer luck or an example of great thinking. The Hurstpierpoint goalkeeper was a big lad, but
Damien's lob/centre/hopeful shot floated into the far corner from 40 yards away. Phil Thompson attempted
something similar soon from the other side after but the accuracy wasn't there. And slowly Hurstpierpoint began
to get back in the game. We tried to play the ball on the ground, but several passes were going astray.
Hurstpierpoint's main tactics were to get the ball forward as quickly as they could, but they didn't help
themselves by running offside. The last 5 minutes of the half saw Hurstpierpoint with a couple of good chances
which they put wide.
The second half again saw a bright start with Ben Alexander going close, but increasingly the pressure was
coming from Hurstpierpoint. While they didn't create a single clear chance they kept coming forward, but the
Wasps back 4 stood up well, with Rob Turner in particular looking comfortable in the middle of the defence. For
20 minutes Wasps struggled to keep the ball up front or in midfield when we did win it - and the ball kept
coming back. But eventually Hurstpierpoint's energies were spent, and Wasps got back in control in the last 10
minutes. With 3 or 4 minutes to go Phil Hayward's well-struck shot was well saved by the Hurstpierpoint
goalkeeper - but Tom Butcher's tackle won the clearance and his deep centre ran to Phil Thompson, who shot low
and hard into the far corner for our second goal. And the match was over.
In the next round we will be at home to another County League division 3 team - but we don't yet know who. We
play the winner of the match between Uckfield Town and St Francis.
Team: Kelly Jones, Peter Benton, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Rob Turner, Terry Wright, Ben Alexander, Mark
Hillen, Damien Cherry, Tom Butcher and Phil Thompson with Phil Hayward and Rob Whiting coming on as second-half
subs.
Playing in our first league match for 5 weeks Wasps were forced to work harder than they needed to in order to
secure all 3 points. It was good to see Kelly Jones back with George Parsons fit again after his foot injury at
East Preston.
After a bright start from both teams it was Wasps who dominated most of the first half, with the ball being
moved around confidently and crisply on a remarkably mild afternoon. Chances were few and far between, with
some of the best Wasps moves ending in offside being given against us. But we kept playing football and
eventually after 20 minutes we took the lead. Damien Cherry's instant diagonal ball from a hurried Crawley Down
clearance went over the top of the Crawley Down defence. Phil Thompson found himself in plenty of space and
rolled the ball past the goalkeeper. Ben Alexander came close to adding to the lead when his volley hit a
defender in the goal area. The one chance that Crawley Down had saw Kelly Jones reacting well to a header. But
the half ended with Wasps in control and looking comfortable.
The second half was rather different. From the start Crawley Down pressured Wasps and didn't allow the Wasps
midfield to settle on the ball. Increasingly Wasps gave the ball away in all areas of the pitch. The forwards
were not able to hold the ball up and the midfield were losing out too many times in the 50:50 tackles. One or
two long balls from Crawley Down saw Kelly Jones having to rush out to clear his lines. But there were still
occasions when Wasps swept through the Crawley Down defence, only for the chance to be missed. And Crawley Down
were realising that all was not lost as Wasps lost much of their composure on the ball. Crawley Down didn't
help themselves when they lost a player after 2 yellow cards, but they continued to put the pressure on the
Wasps goal. Kelly Jones made sure the points remained with the Wasps when he pushed a close-range header over
the bar in the last few minutes.
That a game lasts for 90 minutes - and not 45 - is a lesson we hope Wasps have learnt from this game.
Team: Kelly Jones, Luke Dunstan, Simon Larking, Chris Raymond, Darren Hall, George Parsons, Terry Wright,
Damien Cherry, Ben Alexander, Phil Thompson and Mark Whale.
On a heavy East Court pitch this 2nd round Sussex Intermediate Cup match took a long time to spark into life
- and in the end Wasps did enough to sneak through to earn a third round visit to Hurstpierpoint, another
County league division 3 team.
The early minutes looked very bright for Wasps as the pace of our forwards seemed to have the beating of the
Newhaven defenders. But after that first 5 minutes we began to lose our rhythm and Newhaven began to play the
ball around. Throughout the first half the game lacked any real passion and it was all very tame. Newhaven did
take the lead after 15 minutes from their first serious attack. A long range shot was half-cleared but dropped
kindly for a Newhaven forward to push the ball home from close range. And the rest of the half saw both sides
playing well within themselves.
So perhaps it was the floodlights coming on at half-time (for their first Saturday afternoon outing of the
season) that brought some of the fire that the game needed - or perhaps it was the team managers' half-time
talks. The game certainly woke up in the last 45 minutes. Wasps had most of the play but were not able to
create too many chances: the Newhaven goalkeeper was dealing comfortably enough with whatever came his way. But
eventually Wasps produced the equaliser after about 65 minutes. A series of shots were blocked in the Newhaven
penalty area before the ball was cleared for a corner. The corner then produced its own share of shots and
blocks before the ball somehow squeezed over the line. We think Bobby Wallis was the last Wasps player to touch
the ball, although it may have been a Newhaven defender who poked the ball over the line.
With both sides now looking for the winner the game opened out, although very few chances were created at
either end. The heavy pitch was beginning to take its toll, as several players needed treatment for cramp.
Extra-time (and perhaps penalties) were becoming more and more likely - but with 5 minutes left we produced the
winner. Terry Wright again picked up the ball just outside the Newhaven penalty area. He slipped past a couple
of defenders, played an excellent wall pass and was pulling his foot back to shoot past the goalkeeper when
Mark Whale stole the ball from the end of his toe. Fortunately Mark's finish was clean and accurate and Wasps
had won the game.
In this Mid-Sussex FA Senior cup match Franklands Village 1st XI were always likely to give us a good test.
Franklands are second in division 3 of the County League, and are hoping that they might get up to division 2
next season i.e. the same league as the Wasps 1st XI.
With the match played on Friday evening (to allow us to prepare for the Fireworks Night on the Saturday
evening) a decent sized crowd saw an entertaining game - it was, as the cliche has it, a game of two halves.
Within the first two minutes Wasps had their first serious chance, when Phil Thompson was disappointed not to
at least get his shot on target. And with their first attack Franklands Village took the lead. A corner on the
right saw a Franklands defender completely unmarked and his header went in off the post. And for the rest of
the half it was Franklands who were pulling most of the strings - winning most of the midfield balls, and using
the pace of their forwards. Scott Kenward had to be smartly out of his goal on more than one occasion and with
another couple of good saves he was far and away the busier goalkeeper. Meanwhile the Franklands goalkeeper
was a spectator. Wasps did well to be only 1-0 down when the referee blew his whistle for half-time.
The second-half was entirely different as Wasps gained control over the game and played with more passion than
in other recent games: at last the Wasps forwards began to see something of the ball. In particular Roger
Gualtieri's pace began to expose the Franklands' defenders. And within 5 minutes of the re-start we were level.
Sam Bettridge's pass gave Roger just enough space to evade two or three challenges and Roger did well to keep
his balance and his composure to score a good goal. For the next 20 minutes Wasps dominated, helped by one or
two poor clearances from Franklands. Tom Butcher playing wide on the right gave us more options than in the
first half, and he always seemed available for the pass. But chances came and chances went and we couldn't
finish the game off. With 15 minutes left Franklands stole back the lead from one of their few second half
attacks. One of their forwards got down the right wing and, instead of the expected high cross, he hit a low
centre which evaded everybody expect for the Franklands player arriving late at the far post. And hard though
we tried Franklands' determination saw them just do enough to hold onto the win.
Scott Kenward, Chris Edwards, Simon Larking, Darren Hall, Terry Wright, Phil Thompson, Tom Butcher, Mark
Hillen, Sam Bettridge, Roger Gualtieri and Damien Cherry with Mark Whale, John Richardson and Ben Alexander
all getting on a substitutes.
Against a very ordinary East Preston side we dominated for large spells of the game, but still contrived to go
out of the League Cup. East Preston are a team in the middle of the Premier division - and if there was any
consolation in the defeat it is that we would be very capable of holding our own in the Premier Division,
should we make it next season.
East Preston's defence always looked ponderous (as indeed did the Wasps defence at times) and Roger Gualtieri's
pace left him with an easy chance which he squandered in the first minute. Further indecision in the East
Preston penalty area should have been punished but Wasps had nobody following up. All this in the first 5
minutes and suddenly East Preston were in front. In one of the few moments of football in the first half a
sharp diagonal run from an East Preston forward was followed by a nicely weighted finish to give Phil Meakin
no chance. But we continued to have most of the play and after 15 minutes we were level. A long clearance
caught East Preston asleep and Roger Gualtieri scored with an excellent cross shot across the goalkeeper. We
kept the ball moving and looked well in control, although without looking very decisive in the East Preston
penalty area. And in the last minute of the half we were behind again. We really should have cleared the ball,
but allowed East Preston to close us down. An excellent turn by the number 9 ended up with him on the floor. A
penalty was given, although it wasn't entirely clear that contact had been made: and again Phil Meakin was left
with no chance at all.
The second half started in unfortunate circumstances. In the first 10 seconds a tackle on George Parsons
damaged an artery in his foot, and the game was halted for nearly 10 minutes while he was treated. George had
to go off to receive treatment from a para-medic and fortunately George was in good spirits by the end of the
game. Matt Thorpe replaced George and within 5 minutes we were back on level terms. Matt's sweeping pass found
Dave Garrett in space - and Dave helped the ball on with a precise lob over the goalkeeper. We now threatened
to take full control of the game as we used pace down both flanks. Once again the final shot was generally way
off target - but surely it was only a matter of time before we took the lead. But it was East Preston who went
back in front, after the worst piece of defensive play I hope to see from a Wasps team. A long ball down the
middle saw 3 Wasps defenders and 1 East Preston forward. 2 Wasps defenders aimed kicks at the ball and failed
to get anywhere near it, and the East Preston forward was suddenly on his own. More pressure from Wasps, some
scrambles but it was East Preston who came nearest to scoring when another long ball saw the Wasps defence
failing to communicate.
A game Wasps should have won, and should have won by a wide margin. Let's get back to the competition we really
want to win - the league - and in particular let's get a bit more fire in front of the goal.
Team: Phil Meakin, Chris Edwards, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Kevin Wright, George Parsons, Mark Hillen,
Terry Wright, Sam Bettridge, Roger Gualtieri and Mark Whale with Dave Garrett, Matt Thorpe and Ben Burns all
coming as subs.
At the 10th attempt Wasps reserves dropped their first points of the season - but in a game where we still
had numerous chances to win. The pitch at Oakwood was very wet and cut up quite badly during the evening, in
what turned out to be a full-blooded match (especially in the second half).
Wasps started brightly, in particular by using the full width of the pitch (and taking advantage of the
slowness of the Oakwood defence). We had already created one or two half chances before we took the lead after
5 minutes. Dave Garrett on the right did well to cross from the right - but the cross went too close to the
keeper. Fortunately the keeper was half asleep and the ball bounced out of his hands for Damien Cherry to head
the simplest goal he is ever likely to score. It was all Wasps with further half-chances coming and going - and
after 20 minutes we went 2-0 up. Neat passes down the right-hand side of the pitch, the ball was pulled back
and Phil Thompson's crisp finish did the rest. David Garrett came close to a third when he hit the post, but
shortly afterwards came Oakwood's first real threat when they also hit the post. But we continued fully in
command, until the minute before half-time. Oakwood were given a free-kick just outside our penalty area. The
ball was half-cleared but knocked back in and the Oakwood centre-forward headed in from about 6 yards.
The second half saw Oakwood fired up and we helped their cause with a poor first 10 minutes to the half: we
kept running with the ball and when we did pass we gave the ball away - many times in our own half. Oakwood
were also pumping the ball forward and were not afraid to be physical. We looked to have weathered the storm
when Oakwood equalised after 65 minutes. Another through ball. Wasps defence insisted that Oakwood's number 9
was offside: the linesman was insistent that No 11 was indeed offside but not interfering with play, while
number 9 was onside. Number 9 didn't stop to join in the discussion - he simply put the ball in the net.
More impetus to Oakwood, and Wasps tried to re-organise with fresh substitute legs. But still Oakwood looked
the more likely to get the winning goal: however the last 5 minutes saw us back in the game as we had three
clear cut chances to take all three points. Mind you it needed an excellent finger-tip save from Phil Meakin
to keep us in the game in between our clear cut chances.
Team: Phil Meakin, Luke Dunstan, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Terry Wright, Phil Thompson, Dave Garrett,
Damien Cherry, Ben Alexander, Sam Bettridge and Tom Butcher with all 3 subs used - John Richardson (first
game of the season), Roger Gualtieri and Mark Whale.
On a soft East Court pitch Wasps eventually overcame a stubborn Newhaven reserve team, although the margin
ought to have been wider. In the surprisingly hot conditions the match was played at a slow pace, with only
occasional bursts of pace. The first 20 minutes were fairly even, although we were already beginning to stroke
the ball around. The defence in particular switched play from one side to the other, as has become their habit.
But clear chances were few and far between. Indeed it was Newhaven who came closest to scoring. Twice, after
defensive mistakes, Ray Collier did well to keep shots out. And Ray was also embarrassed by 2 or 3 back passes
which were nowhere near him. Wasps had only one clear chance in the first-half when Mark Whale got on the end
of a centre from the right - Mark will be disappointed that he didn't get the ball on target.
The second-half saw Wasps camping in the Newhaven half, but the heat was making it hard going for all of the
players. Both teams began to visibly tire. But on the hour Wasps eventually took the lead. Terry Wright's
free-kick from the right was met by Phil Thompson's powerful glancing header and we were ahead. For a while it
looked as if we take total control as the Newhaven defence struggled to keep them in the game. A second goal
for the Wasps might have meant many more. But Newhaven survived and came more into the game. Ray Collier was
still suffering more inconvenience from his own defenders as back passes again went astray. The referee might
have given Wasps a penalty when Phil Thompson seemed to be pushed off the ball. But with 10 minutes left we
finished the game off. Phil Thompson patiently held onto the ball wide on the left: he found a bit of space
before crossing the ball deep to the far post where Ben Alexander was waiting to steer the ball home. Bobby
Wallis nearly ended the match with a headed goal - but 2-0 was enough.
Team: Ray Collier, Darren Hall, Ian Smith, Simon Larking, Terry Wright, George Parsons, Phil Thompson,
Damien Cherry, Bobby Wallis, Ben Alexander and Mark Whale with Mark Hillen as sub.
On the excellent pitch at Redhill for our first away game of the season, Wasps were faced with a very young team,
who tried to play football all the time - but inevitably our strength wore them down. With a strong breeze
blowing with Redhill in the first half Wasps looked a bit uncomfortable with some of the long clearances, whereas
we tried to keep the ball on the floor. Our lack of movement off the ball was a feature throughout the game. But
after 10 minutes we took the lead. Phil Thompson spotted Roger Gualtieri's movement down the middle and Roger
finished with a crisp low shot past the goalkeeper.
Redhill had their fair share of possession in the first half but never looked like scoring. We had no problems
containing them, and Roger Gualtieri caused problems whenever he was given the ball. However that lack of movement
kept meaning players had nobody to pass to, and inevitably we lost the ball. Just on half-time George Parsons ran
from deep straight through the Redhill defence, only to pull the ball wide.
With the breeze behind the Wasps in the second half we might have expected a bit of a goal feast and within 5
minutes we had gone 2-0 up. Luke Dunstan rode a tackle to put Dave Garrett away down the right wing. Dave's deep
cross eluded everybody as it floated into the far corner - the Redhill goalkeeper, who otherwise played very well,
will be disappointed that he let that one in. The rest of the match saw us pushing the ball round without ever
getting into top gear. The final pass was all too often too strong and ran away from the forwards with the wind.
Phil Meakin was kept in the game with a few back passes, as he had very little to do. 15 minutes from time we did
manage our third. Ben Alexander's wriggling run into the penalty area was stopped by the combined arms and bodies
of 2 Redhill defenders. Sam Bettridge put the resultant penalty into the roof of the net. Ben Alexander and Mark
Hillen should both have added to the scoreline but the Redhill goalkeeper defied them.
With the game now dead the last few minutes became rather bad-tempered. Simon Larking, who really ought to know
better, ran after a Redhill forward after a tackle while play continued - leaving a hole in the defence. And then
George Parsons got himself needlessly booked in the last minute following 2 high tackles on the same player within
20 seconds of each other - both of them in front of the referee. And a few other tackles might have been punished
more severely if they had come earlier in the game.
8 wins out of 8 games - you can't really complain. But let's hope for a little more movement off the ball.
Team: Phil Meakin, Luke Dunstan, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Terry Wright, George Parsons, David Garrett, Phil
Thompson, Sam Bettridge, Roger Gualtieri and Ben Alexander with Mark Hillen, Tom Butcher and Scott Woolley all
coming on as subs.
The rain during the week has meant we have seen the last of the bone-hard pitches until the winter frosts come.
With the East Court pitch at last able to take a stud the Reserves were back to something like their best -
especially in the 25 minutes after half-time.
The first half saw neither side able to dominate. Roger Gualtieri's pace and George Parsons' and Richard
Whale's dominance in the air were not giving us the final killing touch. Eastbourne threatened once or twice
and should perhaps have scored after a defensive mistake gave the ball away. As half time approached Wasps'
play became rather more frenetic as the goal wouldn't come. And if Tom Butcher had been 6 inches taller he
might have scored from Roger Gualtieri's deep cross as the half finished.
Rather strangely Wasps started the second half with only 10 men. Terry Wright had to be substituted at
half-time but it seemed that nobody had told the subs. We spent the first 5 minutes with only 10 players, but
the tactic had immediate effect. Within 30 seconds of the re-start we were ahead. We had a free-kick just
outside the Eastbourne penalty area and George Parsons was left completely unmarked: his sweetly hit volley
flew home. And now we were in control. Richard Whale thought he had scored with a header when Roger Gualtieri's
fierce shot was spilled by the keeper - but the linesman's flag was raised. Shortly after another firm shot
from Roger was fumbled by the keeper. Richard Whale won the ball back and Tom Butcher had the simple job of
pushing the ball into the empty net. Wasps were now rampant and passing the ball in all areas of the pitch.
Number 3 soon followed as Richard Whale skipped through 2 or 3 tackles before sliding the ball home. Not to be
outdone brother Mark Whale collected Roger Gualtieri's through ball for number 4. With the game over we took
our foot off the accelerator and eased down. However number 5 came with 5 minutes left. Steve Greig seemed to
have wasted an opportunity to score but his cross found a whole queue of Wasps players waiting. Ben Alexander
made sure this goal was his. And in the very last minute a free-kick from George Parsons thudded against the
bar - which is probably still shaking from the force of the shot.
Team: Phil Meakin, Luke Dunstan, Scott Woolley, Peter Benton, Terry Wright, George Parsons, Mark Whale,
Tom Butcher, Richard Whale, Roger Gualtieri and Ben Alexander with Steve Greig, Darren Hall and Dave Garrett
all coming on a subs in the second-half.
On a very hard dry pitch at East Court, with a strong breeze blowing all game, both teams struggled to get
a good first touch on the ball. As a consequence passes were made inaccurately and inevitably both teams chose
to play long hopeful balls rather than try to keep the ball short. It was not a good game to watch.
Nevertheless, against a very young Westfield team, the Wasps made it 6 wins out of 6 - but here's hoping they
can their passing game back together in the near future.
The game started brightly enough with one or two half chances coming Wasps' way. And after 15 minutes the long
ball played off. A clearance from defence was well controlled by Richard Whale and he released Sam Bettridge
who rolled the ball past the Westfield goalkeeper. Terry Wright should have added a second shortly after but
Westfield were increasingly coming into the game as half-time approached - without causing any real problems.
Westfield had the benefit of the wind in the second half and were soon on level terms. Wasps looked to have
cleared their lines after an attack but a misplaced clearance went straight to a Westfield midfield player.
His pass into the penalty area was smashed home by one of the forwards. Fortunately this seemed to add a
little more determination to Wasps' play and their physical strength began to have its effect on the Westfield
youngsters. A Wasps free-kick just outside the Westfield penalty area was half-cleared. Ben Alexander did well
to get the ball back and his low cross was half-stopped on the line only for Darren Hall to stab the ball
home. The third goal came with about 20 minutes to go. Another long ball down the right found Peter Benton
challenging strongly. He was able to get down to the goal-line: his centre bounced around the penalty area for
what seemed ages until Ian Smith's left foot shot from about 15 yards took a deflection past the goalkeeper.
Darren Hall contrived to miss from a yard out after the goalkeeper dropped the ball, but the last 10 minutes
saw a succession of misplaced passes from both teams.
Wasps team: Lee Browne, Scott Woolley, Darren Hall, Simon Larking, Keith Bradshaw, Terry Wright, Peter
Benton, Tom Butcher, Richard Whale, Sam Bettridge and Ben Alexander. All 3 subs - Ian Smith, Ray Collier and
Phil Thompson came on, although Phil may not have had time to touch the ball in his time on the pitch.
GRINSTEAD maintained their 100 per cent record in Reserve Section East after thrashing Eastbourne Town 6-1 at
East Court.
Of the 14 players on duty, 13 have played first team football which is an indication of the strength in depth
at Grinstead this season. The 14th, Luke Dunstan, came on in the second half for his first appearance of the
season after suffering a pre-season groin injury and he particularly impressed manager Ian Lindsey.
Sam Bettridge helped himself to four goals and Ben Alexander and Terry Wright were also on target.
GRINSTEAD maintained their 100 per cent record in Reserve Section East after spanking Bexhill 10-0 at East Court.
Ben Alexander scored a hat-trick and there were two apiece for Richard Whale, Mark Whale and Ben Burns. Sam Bettridge completed the rout
which keeps Ian Lindsey's side at the top of the table.
TWO goals from Sam Bettridge and one apiece by James Hylton and George Parsons earned Wasps a hard-fought 4-1 win over Lingfield in
Friday's Reserve Section East game at East Court.
GRINSTEAD Reserves opened their East Division campaign with a 3-0 home win over Shinewater in the East Division.
Midfielder George Parsons, a new signing who was with Peacehaven last season, capped an excellent debut with two headed
goals while Sam Bettridge, with another header, was on target for the third goal.
Wasps could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty by Simon Larking.
Town ground out an unspectacular win in this Mid Sussex Division 2 match against their local rivals. Town, who
are in confident form, with only one defeat since November and a Cup Final to look forward to, were always in
command in this match. Whiting and Engwell caused problems down the flanks and the engine room of Dart and Lynn
were working well in the midfield. Brown had a few early attempts for Town but after 20 minutes they still had
nothing to show for their dominance.
After half an hour Town were awarded a free kick on the left hand side. An excellent delivery by Norris found
Major, who reacted first and steered the ball past the keeper.
In the second half Town made a couple of changes with Duvall playing on the left hand side. With Town in control,
they were able to have the luxury of bringing Bob Smith, 39, in for his first match of the season. Town extended
their lead when Brown was pulled down in the area and a penalty was awarded. Norris calmly sent the keeper the
wrong way to ensure a comfortable 2-0 victory. The Town back four of Blades, Cadman, Norris and Barham were very
solid and keeper Simms did not have one shot to save in the entire match.
Town travelled to Crawley for this Mid Sussex Charity Cup Semi-Final full of confidence following an unbeaten run
stretching back to November. Town were at full strength for the fixture and were expecting a difficult game
against TD Sports Reserves, who play in Division 2 of the Crawley League.
It was Town who started brightly and took the game to the home side. After a couple of early promising moves,
Town attacked down the right hand side with Jim Blades feeding the ball to Rob Whiting. It was Whiting's
dangerous cross which put the TD Sports defence in a panic which enabled Elvis Lynn to get in front of the keeper
and score from close range.
This early goal after only eight minutes of play was just what Town wanted. Town continued to press and within a
few minutes had scored a second. TD Sports could only half clear a cross and it came to the influential Steve
Norris. Rather than try a long range shot, Norris picked out Roger Dart who cooly slotted the ball past the
advancing keeper.
The home side were clearly shell-shocked by this early onslaught and had no answer to Town's excellent passing
and moving. With Phil Ward dominating in the midfield, it was his vision that nearly set up a third for Town.
His pass found the lively Matt Garrett, but he failed to beat the goalkeeper from 15 yards.
Town were looking very assured at the back and the defence of Blades and Norris, along with David Barham and
Anthony Cadman were outstanding. Town experienced their first period of pressure in the last five minutes of the
first half. TD Sports won a couple of corners in quick succession but goalkeeper Steve Simms and the Town defence
stood firm.
The half time whistle blew with a very satisfactory first half by Town under their belts. They had played some
good, incisive football and had been resolute at the back. They were just 45 minutes away from a first ever final
for the Town third team.
The second half started with TD Sports looking to take control of the game. Town were keen to defend their two
goal lead and as a result started to defend too deeply. This left the Town front two, Bob Wallis and Matt
Garrett, a little isolated. To their credit they worked hard and Wallis did well to create a few openings for
Garrett in the second half.
After an hour, TD Sports were awarded a corner and following a free header, they scored after a scramble on the
goal line. This gave the home side the lift they wanted and it was clearly going to be a long half an hour for
Town. The wide midfielders, Elvis Lynn and Rob Whiting, worked hard defensively to help an overworked Town
defence. The only brief respites were when Dart made his typical forward runs from the centre of midfield. Town
introduced Karl Brown and Damien Duvall into the action to give the Town side some much needed assistance in the
last quarter.
Whilst Town conceded possession and territory in the second half, they still restricted TD Sports to only a few
half chances. With five minutes to go, the home side had their best chance to equalise. They created space on the
left hand side and worked the ball to one of their forwards who struck a shot which was bound for the top right
hand corner. Town keeper, Steve Simms, at full stretch and with great agility, tipped the ball over the bar.
Town negotiated the final five minutes without any other scares and deservedly booked their place in the final.
It was a great team performance and the players can now look forward with optimism to a final appearance some
time in April.
Team: Simms, Blades, Cadman, Norris, Barham, Lynn, Dart, Ward, Whiting, Wallis and Garrett. Subs Used: Brown
and Duvall. Subs Not Used: Major
Town visited an in-form Burgess Hill Albion for this quarter final of the Mid Sussex Charity Cup match in good
spirit following a good run of recent results. It was not a good start for Town when leading goal scorer, Matt
Garrett, went off after only ten minutes. Neither side really gained control of the game and the Town defence
of Blades, Cadman, Major and Barham were rarely troubled by the home team.
After 20 minutes Town thought they had taken the lead when, from a left wing cross, Bruce found the net but the
referee disallowed the goal for pushing. With only a few minutes of the half remaining Duvall found Norris with
space on the left hand side; his early cross caught out the home defence and Roger Dart was on hand at the back
post to give Town the lead.
The second half started quietly for Town and Albion were starting to get frustrated. When it appeared that Town
were taking control of the game they had a horror five minutes. The home side equalised and then, within minutes,
took the lead. Earlier in the season this Town side would have folded, however they now have a real team spirit
and strong character.
Town began to play some good positive football and with Engwell and Bruce causing the home side problems Town
certainly were not out of the game.
The vital equalising goal came with ten minutes remaining; good skills by Elvis Lyn on the edge of the
opposition box allowed him enough room to rifle a shot into the corner of the net.
Town were now looking to win this cup clash in the 90 minutes and with only five minutes to go they got the
winning goal. A chipped cross by Lyn found Norris who laid the ball off to Dart to score with a low shot. Town
still had some defending to do. The home side won a number of late corners but with Steve Simms in commanding
form in the Town goal the team held on for an excellent victory.
There is no game for Town this Saturday and they are next inaction on Saturday 29th December when they have a
home league match against Wivelsfield Green.
Team: Simms, Blades, Cadman, Major, Barham, Bruce, Lynn, Dart, Duvall, Norris and Garrett Sub Used: Engwell
Town entertained Peacehaven United in this Mid Sussex Division Two fixture and were worthy winners in a hard
fought contest. Town appeared to have too much pace for their visitors throughout their team and it was no
surprise when Phil Hayward rifled in a shot from 15 yards to give Town an early lead. Although in the next 15
minutes Town dominated the game, they squandered a number of chances. With half an hour gone Town eventually
extended their lead with the best move of the game. Working the ball from the back, the elusive Rob Whiting
played a swift one-two with Matt Garrett before getting to the bye line and pulling the ball back for goal
poacher Bob Wallis to tap the ball in.
With the score remaining at 2-0 to half time, Town were well aware that the next goal of the game was going to
be important. Town statred the second half sluggishly and it was therefore good that keeper Simms and the back
four of Barham, Major, Turner and Wooley were stifling any opposition attacks. With Duvall and Whiting starting
to cause more problems as the half went on it was then over to leading goalscorer, Matt Garrett, to quickly
find the the net twice in the space of five minutes.
Town introduced Lynn, Engwell and Brown to the action and these fresh legs began to run Peacehaven ragged. The
stage was set for Roger Dart to go on a solo run from the midfield and beat the advancing keeper with ease to
score Town's fifth goal. There was just enough time for Phil Hayward to complete the scoring with his second
and Town's sixth to secure a well deserved win for Town.
It is good news that the team are running into such good form as they have an important Cup Quarter-Final clash
this Saturday away to Burgess Hill Albion.
Team: Simms, Major, Barham, Turner, Wooley, Whiting, Dart, Hayward, Duvall, Wallis and Garrett. Subs (All
Used): Lynn, Engwell and Brown.
Town thirds travelled to Haywards Heath on Saturday with a strong squad for this Mid Sussex Division 2 fixture.
Town started the game at a quick tempo and straight away caused problems in the home teams defence. After only
eight minutes Town deservedly took the lead when the ball fell to Phil Hayward on the edge of the box who
rifled in a powerful shot. It was Hayward who almost extended the lead ten minutes later when his free kick
cannoned off the crossbar.
Town were looking very comfortable at the back with Blades, Cadman, Wooley and Barham keeping things very tight.
Town were doing all the pressing and a Mark Hillen free kick found Wooley at the back pot and his shot went
just over the bar. The home side did very little attacking in the first half but were awarded a free kick on
the edge of the box. A well struck free kick was heading for the top left hand corner before Steve Simms, at
full stretch, dived to tip it round the post and produce an excellent save.
Heath Pilgrims started the second half stronger but still lacked ideas against a strong Town defence. Whilst
Town had less possession in the second half they certainly created a number of very good chances. One excellent
move saw Whiting feed Wallis and his pass gave Garrett a tremendous opportunity which was unfortunately
squandered. With only a couple of minutes remaining and Town fullly deservng their victory against higher
placed opponents tradgedy struck. A speculative shot from the home side took a wicked deflection to give Heath
Pilgrims a point they really did not deserve.
It was a disappointing finish for the Town team but it shows how far this team has come on when they can be
upset to only draw against a strong first team. Town will be looking to keep this good form going next week
when they hope to complete the double over Peacehaven United, who are the visitors to East Court on Saturday.
Team: Simms, Blades, Cadman, Wooley, Barham, Whiting, Hillen, Hayward, Brown, Wallis, Garrett. Subs Used:
Duvall and Iveson. Subs not Used: Major
Town travelled to Burgess Hill for this Mid Sussex Division Two match with a strong side. After a promising
start however, Athletic took the lead against the run of play. Town were soon level when a Garret corner was
headed in by Major. Town now started to dominate and it was no surprise when they took the lead courtesy of a
30 yard strike by Hayward. Unfortunately Town were caught napping and Athletic soon equalised but once again
Town regained the lead when a Whiting cross was powerfully headed in by Wallis.
The second half started with Town in control but a defensive lapse again allowed Athletic to equalise. With the
game entering the last 20 minutes Town showed their greater fitness, with Dart and Hayward dominating the
midfield battle. Garrett restored the lead for Town and this was soon extended by Wallis. With Athletic now
completly out of the game, Garrett completed the scoring for Town. A well deserved away victory which puts the
team in good confidence for next weeks away fixture with Heath Pilgrims.
Town and United clashed in this Mid Sussex Division 2 fixture on Saturday at the Kings Centre and as usual it was
a highly competitive match. It was Town who started brightly and dominated the early possession and it was
against the run of play when a United right wing cross defected off Town cetre back Cadman for a a freak own
goal. United then enjoyed their best spell of the game and after 15 minutes doubled their lead after a neat move.
However, Town were still looking the more dangerous and Ray Collier had a couple of chances to get Town back in
the game. With Town's Chris Harvey causing the United defence all sorts of problems with his fifty yard throw-ins
it was only a matter of time before Town struck. It was prolic striker Bob Wallis who got Town the goal they
deserved with a powerful header on the stroke of half time.
The second half was all Town with youngsters Lynn, Barham, Engwell and Whiting providing all the running for a
vibrant Town side. The equaliser rightly came after 65 minutes when Colliers shot found the corner of the net.
It really was one-way traffic as Town pinned United back into their half. Although Town had the majority of the
possession they were unable to create any clear cut chances that their football deserved.
The game finished all square and Town can count themselves a little unfortunate that they did not secure all
three points.
On paper Wasps 3rd XI looked to be fairly strong, but against a good Lewes Rovers we were well beaten in the end.
5-0 was not perhaps a true reflection of the game, but there was no doubt that Lewes deserved their win.
The first half saw us just about hanging in for much of the time. With 5 minutes to go to half-time we were still
at 0-0, but in those last 5 minutes we conceded two goals. An early third goal in the second half and we were
always chasing the game. We had to play most of the second half with 10 men when Matt Garrett had to go off (and
we had no substitute to replace him) and inevitably succumbed to further pressure from Lewes.
Team: Steve Simms, Adrian Engwell, Daniel Medcalf, Ray Collier, David Barham, Jim Blades, Roger Dart, Mark
Hillen, Chris Harvey, Bob Wallis and Matt Garrett, Sub Used: Paul Stitchman
Town faced a strong United Reserve Team and were soon under pressure.
When it appeared Town had successfully weathered the storm of the first 15 minutes they gifted United the
opening goal following a defensive mix-up.
United scored a second after 25 minutes and then got a third on the stroke of half-time.
Town gave an improved second half performance and their mixture of youngsters and experienced players never
gave up. They thoroughly deserved their goal, scored by Matt Garrett and can take heart from their battling
throughout the 90 minutes.
Town travelled down to Rustington for a Sussex Cup tie and after outplaying the home side for long periods they
were denied victory by one contoversial second half decision.
Town started brightly in a fast and furious encounter and after just five minutes created a very good chance to
take the lead. Unfortunately Matt Garrett was denied by the Rustington keeper from five yards out. It was Town
who continued to dominate and Steve Norris went close with a long range effort. The first half remained goaless
and special mention must be given to the back four of Cadman, Medcalf, Barham and Blades who were outstanding.
It was a similar story in the second half with Town controlling the midfield but unable to get that vital goal.
With 25 minutes to go Rustington had one of their rare forays into the Town half. It finished however with a
high looping cross which Town keeeper Steve Simms comfortably collected. As he was in the air holding the ball,
Simms was challenged by a Rustington forward who collided with him and left Simms dazed on the floor. The
Rustington forward put the loose ball into the net and to the amazement of everyone at the match the referee
awarded the goal.
The goal did put Town out of their stride and they came back strongly. Garrett, Medcalf and Wallis all went
close for Town but it not to be their day. An excellent performance by all of the players which certainly
deserved a great deal more for their efforts. Next week Town are once again in cup action when they play
Felbridge in the Mid Sussex cup. The game wil be played on the main pitch at East Court at 12.30pm before the
other big game that day between England and Greece.
Team : Simms, Blades, Cadman, Medcalf, Barham, Brown, Hillen, Norris, Whiting, Garrett and Wallis, Subs Used:
Engwell and Stitchman, Subs Not Used: Major
A stunning second half display and a superb individual performance from Matt Garrett gave Town all three league
points. For the second week running, it was the Town youngsters coupled with a few seasoned players, who
played all of the football. However, it was Peacehaven who took the lead, and whilst Garrett struck back
imediately for Town, a penalty for Peacehaven gave them a 2-1 half-time lead.
The second half was all Town and they equalised after just five minutes when a Karl Brown cross was headed into
the corner by Garrett. It was not long before Garrett completed his hat-trick; a quick break by Town found Bob
Wallis who laid the ball on for Garrett to put Town in front. With the Town youngsters starting to dominate, a
clinical through ball by Elvis Lynn presented Garrett with his fourth goal. The Town back four of Cadman,
Medcalf, Barham and Blades were in complete control and when winger Rob Whiting released Garrett, Town extended
their lead further.
Town coninued to press forwards and Stitchman and Lynn went close with long range efforts. With a few minutes
to go, some slack marking from a Peacehaven corner gave Town keeper Meakin no chance. However, Town had the
last word when a flowing move allowed the hard working and skillful Mark Hillen to score the final goal of the
game.
A tremendous result for Town, who take a break from league action this week, when they travel to Rustington for
a County Cup match.
Team : Meakin, Blades, Cadman, Medcalf, Barham, Whiting, Lynn, Hillen, Brown, Wallis, Garrett. Sub Used :
Stitchman Sub not used : Major
The first local derby of the season saw Town visit Mariners in a competitive Mid Sussex Division 2 league
clash. It was Mariners who started brightest but as the first half continued it was Town who began to take
control. A weaving run on the let wing by Matt Garrett nearly gave Town the lead. However after twent minutes
Town deservedly took the lead when a good ball by Anthony Cadman found Bob Wallis who laid the ball off for Rob
Whiting. Seeing the keeper off the line, Whiting cleverly chipped the keeper to put Town in front. Town
squandered further chances and score remined 1-0 at half time.
Town dominated the second half without really creating many good chances. To their credit Mariners kept
battling and with just three minutes left scored a breakaway goal which meant the league points were shared.
Next Saturday Town are once again in League action when they travel to Peacehaven United.
