Post by Bruce Talbot on Mar 9, 2011 17:47:03 GMT -5
Three Bridges 1, East Grinstead Town 3
A late Rikki Cable brace gave Grinstead arguably their best victory of the season over second placed Three Bridges on Tuesday night.
This was Wasps' third consecutive league victory and with sides around them at the top of the County League all dropping points there is a great chance that Grinstead will finish in the top five or better which would be a great achievement in manger Tony Beckingham's first full season in charge.
Bridges have been on a poor run of late but there is now doubting they a still a quality side at this level but it was Grinstead who started the brighter and Peter Cooper almost opened the scoring but could only head wide when well placed from a Liam Baitup cross.
Bridges grew into the game and they started asking numerous questions of the Grinstead defence and started to create the better opportunities. Tom Lyons, who led the line well for Bridges, released the lively Elliott Romain and his effort was smothered by Danny Harwood before the rebound was eventually poked wide.
Grinstead at this stage were gifting opportunities to Bridges and when Drew Cooney gave the ball away on the edge of he box he was relieved to see Lyons shot wide of the far post when well placed. Soon after Andy Howard fired over at the far post from close range following a corner.
Bridges should have taken the lead on 37 minutes, Peter Featherstone was dispossessed by Romain who rounded Harwood but somehow from inside the six yard box he could only toe-poke wide and Grinstead were happy to go in at the break on level terms as Lyons again went close on the half-time whistle.
Like the first half Grinstead started the second half brightly and found themselves ahead after 50 minutes. JP Collier, back in the side after suspension, threaded the ball through to Baitup who from an acute angle showed great composure to clip the ball over Bridges keeper Simon Lookwood for his 30th goal of the season.
Bridges looked to respond but Grinstead's defence looked more solid than in the first period and apart from a James Grant effort at the far post struggled to create anything meaningful until a quality goal with 12minutes remaining put them back on level terms.
Romain did well to keep the ball in play on the right, he found Lee Carney who played a delightful one-two with Lyons before volleying inside the far post leaving Harwood with no chance.
Bridges went hunting for the winner but left themselves exposed at the back and Grinstead exploited this clinically. With five minutes remaining Baitup turned provider when he was released down the right and his pin point cross was met bythe head of Cable six yards who easily beat the exposed Lockwood.
Two minutes later Grinstead ensured all three points and they saved their best for last. Cable, who is fast becoming a cult hero with his laid back style, picked the ball up on the edge of the box twisted and turned his way past about three defenders before selling Lockwood a dummy and firing into an empty net. It was a fine goal to cap a good Grinstead performance.
Grinstead: Harwood, Cooney,Wilson (sub: Denton 74), Sinclair, Pelling (Dabrowa 60), Carey, Collier, Cooper (Sinden 81), Baitup, Cable. Sub not used: Lardent
A late Rikki Cable brace gave Grinstead arguably their best victory of the season over second placed Three Bridges on Tuesday night.
This was Wasps' third consecutive league victory and with sides around them at the top of the County League all dropping points there is a great chance that Grinstead will finish in the top five or better which would be a great achievement in manger Tony Beckingham's first full season in charge.
Bridges have been on a poor run of late but there is now doubting they a still a quality side at this level but it was Grinstead who started the brighter and Peter Cooper almost opened the scoring but could only head wide when well placed from a Liam Baitup cross.
Bridges grew into the game and they started asking numerous questions of the Grinstead defence and started to create the better opportunities. Tom Lyons, who led the line well for Bridges, released the lively Elliott Romain and his effort was smothered by Danny Harwood before the rebound was eventually poked wide.
Grinstead at this stage were gifting opportunities to Bridges and when Drew Cooney gave the ball away on the edge of he box he was relieved to see Lyons shot wide of the far post when well placed. Soon after Andy Howard fired over at the far post from close range following a corner.
Bridges should have taken the lead on 37 minutes, Peter Featherstone was dispossessed by Romain who rounded Harwood but somehow from inside the six yard box he could only toe-poke wide and Grinstead were happy to go in at the break on level terms as Lyons again went close on the half-time whistle.
Like the first half Grinstead started the second half brightly and found themselves ahead after 50 minutes. JP Collier, back in the side after suspension, threaded the ball through to Baitup who from an acute angle showed great composure to clip the ball over Bridges keeper Simon Lookwood for his 30th goal of the season.
Bridges looked to respond but Grinstead's defence looked more solid than in the first period and apart from a James Grant effort at the far post struggled to create anything meaningful until a quality goal with 12minutes remaining put them back on level terms.
Romain did well to keep the ball in play on the right, he found Lee Carney who played a delightful one-two with Lyons before volleying inside the far post leaving Harwood with no chance.
Bridges went hunting for the winner but left themselves exposed at the back and Grinstead exploited this clinically. With five minutes remaining Baitup turned provider when he was released down the right and his pin point cross was met bythe head of Cable six yards who easily beat the exposed Lockwood.
Two minutes later Grinstead ensured all three points and they saved their best for last. Cable, who is fast becoming a cult hero with his laid back style, picked the ball up on the edge of the box twisted and turned his way past about three defenders before selling Lockwood a dummy and firing into an empty net. It was a fine goal to cap a good Grinstead performance.
Grinstead: Harwood, Cooney,Wilson (sub: Denton 74), Sinclair, Pelling (Dabrowa 60), Carey, Collier, Cooper (Sinden 81), Baitup, Cable. Sub not used: Lardent