Wasps slide towards relegation zone

EAST Grinstead Town remain uncomfortably close to the County League relegation zone after defeat at The Beacon on Tuesday night in their first Division One game for five weeks.

The Wasps controlled possession for long spells but they lacked a cutting edge in the final third and went down 1-0.

Neither 15-goal top scorer Ben Burns or Simon Funnell were available so manager Steve Johnson pushed Matt Crane up front alongside Aaron MacMillan.

The pair worked hard but Wasps failed to test Hassocks' keeper Joel Harding enough, and when they did his handling was faultless.

The only goal came after just six minutes when a corner was flicked on by Spencer Slaughter and Phil Gault stole in to beat Matt May from close range.

May was a spectator for most of the first half while his opposite number made excellent saves from Drew Crush and Dave Gellatly, who both let fly from outside the box.

There were plenty of other near misses as well, with John Sinclair side-footing over from 10 yards out, but the final ball often let Grinstead down and the pattern continued in the second half.

Hassocks soaked up the pressure reasonably comfortably and were a threat on the counter-attack and May made excellent saves to keep out Slaughter's header before he denied Gault who had got clean through.

Crush and MacMillan both came off with injuries so youth-team striker Sam Fildes made his debut for the last 20 minutes but Wasps could have played until midnight and not scored.

Johnson should have Funnell and Burns available for Saturday's important league game at Mile Oak (3pm) but Crush (ankle) and Danny Powell, who damaged shoulder ligaments in last Saturday's cup defeat at Shoreham, are doubtful. Jack Johnson will be available after suspension.

Grinstead: May, Cramp, Wilson, Neville, Pelling, Sinclair, Crush (Taylor 43), Gellatly, Piscina, MacMillan (Fildes 68), Crane.