This was a game Town totally dominated and the scoreline did not reflect the pressure and control Town had on the game. Wasps were able to field a strong team including Dave Gellatly, who missed last week due to a family wedding, Alex McEwan, who was also away last week and Marc Pelling and David Major, who were back from suspension.
It was therefore no surprise when Town took the lead after 20 minutes when an excellent cross from Alex McEwan was not dealt with by the visiting keeper and Dave Gellatly was on hand to score at the back post. However, this should have been the start of a goal rout but a combination of poor passing and finishing meant that Town did not extend their lead. In fact it was the visitors who scored two break away goals and led 2-1 at half time.
A more clinical second half performance was given by Town and they were on level terms after 60 minutes. Steve Major beat a defender before he was fouled in the box; captain Scott Johnston stepped up to score from the spot. Wasps were now pressing for the lead and it came on 70 minutes.
Town were awarded a free kick just over 25 yards out and Dave Major struck a superb shot into the top right hand corner to give the keeper no chance.
With 10 minutes remaining Town scored a fourth. Good work initially by Dave Knight then saw Michael Belli fouled. His quick free kick found Grant Rigler who scored with an accurate shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Team : Jacobs, Pelling, Taylor, Johnston, Major D, Gellatly, Belli, Granger, McEwan, Major S, Rigler. Subs Used : Collier, Gunter, Knight Unused Subs : Fletcher and Tilley
An excellent display by Wasps reserves got them back to winning ways with a convincing win on Saturday. However it was the visitors who dominated possession and most probably had 60% of the play. A combination of poor finishing , good defending and excellent goalkeeping ensured a clean sheet for Wasps.
Town took the lead after 10 minutes; a good run by Simon Tadman saw his shot hit the post, however, it re-bounded to Dean Coomber who made no mistake from six yards. The first half saw a number of corners for Chessington but Town Keeper, Ben Abbott, was able to clear all danger in and around the six yard box. Town extended their lead after 30 minutes when Tadman found Steve Major and he beat the advancing keeper.
It was important that Town started the second half solidly and both Scott Johnston and Ryan Fletcher were excellent in the heart of the Wasps defence. Town got the all important third goal after 55 minutes. An excellent cross from Michael Belli picked out Tadman at the far post who headed to score. as the opposition became more frustrated with the officials, town were able to play their quick passing football. The best move of the game led to the fourth goal; with five players involved in a flowing move it was left to Alex McEwan to lift the ball over the keeper and find the roof of the net.
If four goals were not enough, town then scored what could be the "Reserve Team goal of the season". Belli fed the ball out to Major on the right; his cross was cleared to five yards outside the box. However, Tadman was able to run and meet it on the volley and his shot gave the keeper no chance as it found the top right hand corner of the net.
With a few minutes to go Major was put through to score the sixth goal of the game and his 18th goal of the season. It capped a great day for Town but special mention to two youngsters, Ben Abbott for a great performance in goal and Ryan Fletcher for a superb display in defence.
Team : Abbott, Gunter, Granger, Belli, Johnston, Fletcher, Tadman, McEwan, Major S, Lawrence, Coomber Subs Used : Tighe and Fildes
The Reserves got back to winning ways in the Suburban League with a comfortable victory over Molesey.
Town took the lead when Grant Rigler scored following a cross from Dean Coomber. The visitors equalised on 30 minutes with an excellent long range shot.
Town regained the lead in the first ten minutes of the second half. A good run by Tom Green saw him cross to David Major who scored from 15 yards.
Town extended the lead 5 minutes later when Matt Edwards laid the ball back for David Major to score again from the edge of the box.
The Reserves scored their fourth goal on sixty minutes when Steve Major beat the defender and curled the ball past the keeper.
Molesey scored a consolation goal in injury time but Town were well worth their victory.
Team : Over, Green, Granger, Major (D), Cooney, Johnston, Edwards, Fletcher, Rigler, Major (S), Coomber. Subs Used : Lynn and Tighe
A superb result for Town as they beat high flying Croydon Athletic, who had only lost two games this season. This was the first time Town have beaten a top three team in the Suburban League since they joined the league 3 years ago and must therefore be the best result they have achieved.
Town started very brightly and were two goals up within 6 minutes. The first goal came after just two minutes when Grant Rigler put Steve Major through; Major held off the defender before rifling a powerful shot past the keeper. The lead was extended on six minutes when Major fed the ball to Rigler on edge of the box and he curled a twenty yard shot into the top right hand corner.
Town continued on the front foot and the visitors , against the run of play, got a goal back after 25 minutes. The score remained at 2-1 to half time.
Athletic went to a three at the back for the second half to put pressure on Town. However Richard Foyle, making a welcome return, and Blair Cooney stood firm at the back. They were supported by good performances by the young full backs, Chris Smith and Dean Coomber.
Town got the all important third goal on 65 minutes when Rigler crossed and Major at the back post headed the ball past the keeper. Town nearly got a fourth when an excellent move involving Dave Major and Alex McEwan led to McEwan firing an excellent cross into the area which Matt Edwards just failed to connect to.
The visitors scored on 90 minutes but Town hell on for an excellent victory.
Team : Collier, Smith, Coomber, Major D, Cooney B, Foyle, McEwan, Edwards, Rigler, Major S, and Johnston. Subs Used : Brown and Fletcher
A hardworking performance by Wasps gave them a well deserved point in this end-to-end contest. The match saw two teams of contrasting styles of play; Wasps had the majority of possession and territory and built from the back and used the widths; whereas the visitors played on the break with pace and hitting their front men early.
After controlling the early stages, Wasps conceded the first goal after 15 minutes from a set piece. The visiting centre back got a free header at a corner which was bundled into the goal on the line. This did not deter Town and they came back into the game with some lively play. The equaliser came on 25 minutes when Miles Neville was able to pull the ball back from the touchline and Steve Major took a couple of touches before firing into the bottom corner.
The second half started with Town playing their best football of the evening. An excellent run by Tom Saunders was met by Grant Rigler on the volley but it hit the keeper and went over the bar. Good play just after this saw Town move the ball from left to right and create some space for full back back Alex McEwan. He travelled with the ball before unleashing a powerful shot which the visiting keeper could only parry.
Very much against the run of play, the visitors took the lead after 70 minutes when they worked the ball quickly to the left winger who scored from 15 yards. For 10 minutes Town started to look vulnerable but did not concede. However the last 10 minutes saw them up the tempo in a quest for the equalising goal. Centre Back Tom Green pushed forward and hit a great shot from 30 yards which was saved by the keeper. With a couple of minutes to go Town got the equaliser their efforts deserved. Saunders was released and he left the centre back trailing as he got to the bye line before cutting the ball back to Major to side foot the ball past the keeper. It was Major's 13th goal for Town this season; unlucky for Crowborough, but it gave Town an all important point.
It was good to see Keeper, Lee Whibley return from injury and mention must also go to Scott Johnston, who had an excellent game in the centre of defence for Wasps.
Team : Whibley, McEwan, Miles Neville, David Major, Green, Johnston, Saunders, Mannie Neville, Rigler, Steve Major,Granger.
Subs (All Used) : Tighe, Taylor, Leggett.
This was a game Grinstead lost rather than the visitors won. From the start it was an excellent game of football and the first 10 minutes saw the visitors dominate. When Wasps got to grips with their defensive duties thet started to pass the ball and look dangerous. Liam Bull, on his first start of the season scored after 25 minutes and that was the only goal of the half.
Wasps played very well in the second half but their good play could not secure a second goal. They most probably had four good opportunities to win the game but the game remained at 1-0. The visitors equalised with a dubious goal after 88 minutes and scored the winner in injury time. It was cruel on the Wasps players who all played well but mention to an excellent game in the centre of defence by Neil Taylor and Lee Granger at left back.
Team : Collier, Smith C, Granger, Fletcher, Cooney B, Taylor, Hancock, Lynn, Bull, Tadman and Coomber Sub Used : Tilley
This was the start Town had been looking for all season.
They started at pace and simply tore into the Oakwood defence with the first goal coming courtesy of Rory Trenholme after 5 minutes. Two minutes later and Simon Tadman was on hand to drill the ball home from 10 yards. Before the visitors could recover, a superb run by Matt Edwards, beating four players, before slotting the ball home and Town were on the rampage. Oakwood did pull a goal back but Town further extended their lead when Edwards netted from 15 yards. The sixth and final goal of the half came after 43 minutes and it gave Oakwood a life line.
It was the visitors who scored first in the second half after 60 minutes and the scoreline was now 4-3 in favour of Wasps. The fifth goal was courtesy of an excellent cross from a free kick by Andy Hancock which was powerfully headed in by Steve Major. The sixth and final goal was from an Elvis Lynn corner which was met on the volley by Tadman who dispatched it into the roof of the net.
An excellent display by Town of positive attacking football.
Team : Collier, Tilley, Granger, Lynn, Cooney B, Taylor, Hancock, Edwards, Major S, Tadman and Trenholme.
Subs Used : Knight, Hill and Hole.
Goalscorers : Edwards (2), Tadman (2), Major S and Trenholme
The reserves recorded an excellent victory over a County Division 3 side in the Sussex Intermediate Cup. however, it really was a game of two halves.
The first half saw a large and powerful home side dominate for long spells and they deserved to be two goals to the good. The glimmer of hope for Town was when they got the ball on the deck and started to move the ball around they looked a good side and well capable of winning the game.
The half time team talk was quite simple; Town were the better footballers and were certainly fitter and younger. If we kept possession and got a goal then the game would be ours. The second half saw Town attack with more conviction but it was 65 minutes before they got the break through. A good run by Dean Coomber saw him release the ball out wide to Rory Trenholme; his whipped in ball evaded the keeper and Steve Major and a defender slid for the ball. The ball came finally off the defender and into the net.
This led to 25 minutes of total control by Town against an increasingly frustrated home team. The equaliser came on eighty minutes when Town were awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Major stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner and now Town were looking for the victory. With 5 minutes to go the third goal was scored when Brian Tilley, who replaced the injured Sam Gunter, found Matt Edwards who got behind the defence and cooly beat the keeper from 10 yards. Town were now on the rampage and the fourth goal came in the final minute when Trenholme slipped the ball to Major who beat the defender and scored from a tight angle.
Mark Holmes had a good game at right back and Ray Collier, in goal, had an impressive first start of the season. A first start was also given to 16 year old Ryan Fletcher who gave an accomplished performance on his debut.
It was good to see Blair Cooney return from injury and after a poor first half, Cooney along with Scott Johnston and Neil Taylor really tightened up in the second half and kept the home team at bay. The result was achieved by a great team spirit and a willingness to work hard for each other; our football did the talking in second half and quietened a noisy home crowd and bench. Happy days on the South Coast.
Finally a big thank you to Richard Foyle, who came to support and ended up running the line and getting lots of abuse from the home team.
Team : Collier, Holmes, Taylor, Fletcher, Cooney, Johnston, Gunter, Edwards, Major, Trenholme and Coomber. Sub Used : Tilley
A Steve Major hat trick earned Town a well deserved point in a competitive Suburban League game.
The first half, which was goaless, saw the visitors create the better chances but it was a half where the defences dominated. The Wasps central defensive partnership of Scott Johnston and Neil Taylor, was particularly solid and they were well supported by full backs, Alex Thompson and Mark Holmes.
The second half started badly for Town, when from an attacking position, Merstham counter attacked and took the lead after 50 minutes.
With time running out, it looked like Town were not going to score, but the game went goals mad in the final 10 minutes. Steve Major scored with a left foot shot after 80 minutes to level the game; however from the re-start Merstham regained the lead. From another quick counter attack move Merstham increased their lead on 85 minutes and the game looked over.
Town coninued to press and were awarded a corner with a couple of minutes to go. Sam Gunter's corner was only palmed by Scott Kenward, the visiting keeper, and Major was on hand to volley the ball into the net. The visitors certainly started to panic and they conceded a free kick on the edge of the box in the final minute when Elvis Lynn was brought down. Major, seeing the keeper to one side, curled the ball into the bottom left hand corner and this secured a hard earned point for Town.
Team : Owens, Holmes, Thompson, Major D, Johnston, Taylor, Tadman, Edwards, Major S, Saunders and Coomber Subs Used : Lynn, Gunter and Splarn
This was a game Wasps lost rather than the hosts won in this Suburban league fixture. The home side started the brighter but could not penetrate the Town defence and it was an error after 30 minutes that gave Cobham a soft lead.
Town responded well and a cross from Simon Tadman found Steve Major, whose left foot shot found the corner of the net.
The second half saw Town more dominant and they went close to taking the lead from a Matt Edwards shot and a surging run by Alex Thompson. Against the run of play the hosts regained the lead by way of another error but once again Town's response was good. Steve Major hit a powerful shot from 25 yards which the home keeper could not hold and Tadman was on hand to tap in the loose ball. When it looked like Town would take all three points as they pressurised Cobham from a number of corners, it was the home team that snatched the winning goal with 5 minutes to go.
On his first start for the Reserves, Neil Taylor had a good game in the centre of defence.
Team : Owens, Smith, Thompson, Major D, Taylor, Johnston, Gunter, Edwards, Major S, Tadman, and Coomber Sub Used : Fletcher
A rather eventful afternoon when we lost our key player after 5 minutes with a blood injury, conceded a penalty that ended up being the only goal after 8 minutes, had a player sent off after 60 minutes for two yellows and two players cautioned after the final whistle. This may sound like a vicious games but it was certainly not that; in total there were 8 bookings in the match but not one bad foul by either team.
From a football point of view Town were excellent; they passed the ball well and kept possession. It was only the final ball that let down their approach play. Sam Gunter had a good chance to level the game on 35 minutes and Neil Taylor had a great header cleared off the line after 80 minutes. An excellent run and shot by Alex McEwan near the end of the game was blocked by a defender and the home side hung on for a victory in this Suburban Challenge Cup tie.
Team : Owens, McEwan, Granger, Major D, Cooney B, Smith, Lynn, Fletcher, Tadman, Major S and Coomber: Subs (All Used) : Gunter, Splarn and Taylor
Another 3 points for the Aquabuild sponsored Reserves but this was not one of their better performances. The first half saw Wasps totally dominate possession but they were just unable to score. There were near misses for Grant Rigler, Chris Smith and Matt Edwards but none of the efforts actually tested the keeper. Half time came with the game goaless and it now needed a much better second half performance to secure the three points.
The introduction off the bench of Elvis Lynn, who had missed the last 3 games, was the turning point. A cross from debutant youth team player, Ryan Fletcher, found Lynn at the far post who headed past the stranded home keeper. Within 10 minutes Town had doubled the lead, a quick throw out from keeper Scott Owens found Lee Granger. Granger travelled down the wing for 60 yards before pulling the ball back to Rigler, who stepped inside his opponent before firing home from 20 yards. Town went further in the lead after 80 minutes; Simon Tadman was fouled on the edge of the box and Lynn dispatched the free kick into the top right hand corner of the net.
A free kick in the final minute by the home side struck the arm of a Wasps defender and Colliers Wood got a consolation goal from the penalty spot. A good three points by Town but they know they can play alot better.
Team : Owens, Smith C, Granger, Read, Cooney B, Johnston, Denver, Edwards, Rigler, Leggett, Tadman. Subs Used : Lynn and Fletcher
A difficult game for Wasps and one they certainly did not disgrace themselves in; with the scoreline flattering the home side. The hosts took the lead through a penalty and soon after extended the lead. Town hit back when a Crowborough defender deflected the ball into his own net. Two further goals before half time gave a very unfair reflection of the game.
A second half goal by Alex McEwan gave the score some respectability in a game where Wasps played some very good attacking football.
Team : Owens, McEwan, Granger, Read, Cooney B, Johnston, Leggett, Edwards, Rigler, Major S, Tadman. Subs Used : Taylor and Gunter
East Grinstead Town Reserves, sponsored by Aquabuild, put in one of their best displays in recent times against a very competent and lively Walton Casuals team. Wasps had never beaten Walton in four previous encounters and it was the away side who dominated the early exchanges. Town were pressed back into their own half and after some solid defending they conceded a goal after 20 minutes. An unstoppable shot by Carlos Sousa from 25 yards gave Town keeper, Scott Owens, no chance. Town soaked up the pressure and eventually came to life after 35 minutes; they started to pass the ball on the ground and keep possession and finished the stronger team, although still trailing at half time to the only goal.
The second half saw Wasps carry on as the finished the first. They appeared faster, hungrier and had a real desire to win the game. The goal they deseved came after 60 minutes when a cross from Aaron Denver was headed into the corner of the net by Steve Major. Town were really on top and within 10 minutes they had taken the lead. A cross field ball by Dean Coomber found Andy Hancock in space and he kept his nerve as he slotted it past the keeper. Town were now playing some excellent football and Walton rarely mounted an attack in the second half. The victory was sealed when some quick feet by Matt Read created space and Dave Major ran from deep to finish from 10 yards.
A great display from a very young Town side with the oldest player being just 22 years old. The victory completed an excellent week for Wasps Reserves who recorded two wins and a draw in the last eight days.
Team : Owens, Smith C, Denver, Major D, Cooney B, Johnston, Hancock, Edwards, Rigler, Major S, Coomber. Subs (All Used) : Belli, Read and Wakley
The game should have been all over after 20 minutes as Town produced some of their best football in recent years. However, they squandered at least 4 golden opportunities to record their second away win in four days; the misses were spread around the team with Hancock, Major, Tadman and Rigler all guilty. However, the closest Town came to a goal was a 30 yard drive from full back, Lee Granger, which hit the crossbar. In fact it was ironic that the hosts took the lead after 41 minutes following only their second attack of the game.
It was good to see Ben Brockbank back in a Town shirt and he partnered Scott Johnston in the heart of the defence, with Johnston having an excellent game. The second half saw a much more even game although Town always looked the more dangerous going forward. Town did get their deserved equaliser with only 10 minutes remaining when Simon Tadman shot through a crowded penalty area.
Team : Owens, Denver, Granger, Read, Johnston, Brockbank, Hancock, Edwards, Rigler, S Major, Tadman. Subs (All Used) : Knight, Leggett and Gunter
A really good win for Wasps Reserves in the Suburban League against a strong Molesey team. After a positive start by Town they conceded a goal afer 15 minutes when a Molesey midfield player made a late run into the box and was not picked up. They were level after 25 minutes when new signing Andy Hancock scored with a powerful shot into the roof of the net from a corner.
Wasps started to dominate and Steve Major thought he had scored just before half time but it was judged to be offside.
Town were again on the front foot in second half and Dean Coomber was brought down in the box after 55 minutes to give Wasps a penalty. Grant Rigler hit a low hard shot but unfortunately the keeper guessed the right way. Town did take the lead after 65 minutes when Hancock's cross was met by Major to give the away side the advantage.
Town were then put under some pressure and keeper scott Owens made two superb saves. This proved vital for Town but the points were wrapped up with the last kick of the game as Rigler found the corner of the net from the edge of the area. A good all round performance from a young squad which had an average age of 19.
Team : Owens, Denver, Johnston, Foyle, Cooney B, Smith C, Hancock, Read, Rigler, Major S, Coomber. Subs Used : Splarn, Gunter
