Grinstead win bragging rights

East Grinstead won the local bragging rights as they deservedly beat an out of sorts Bridges side on Easter Monday.

There were far too many silly free kicks conceded by the visitors in the first half, many of the fouls being on Ben Aubrey, who was a Bridges player only last month. So AUBREY was pleased to jab home the opening goal after eighteen minutes when Bridges failed to clear Omar Folkes’ low cross from the left.

But that was one of only two telling shots on target in that opening half, the other coming from a Curtis Gayler free kick that was tipped over the bar by Luke Glover.

At least the second half produced more goalmouth action, although busiest man on the pitch seemed to be referee Timothy Godfrey, who had probably been generous in keeping cards in his pocket earlier in the game.

KIE DOUGLAS was the star of the show for Bridges and he put Wasps further in front after 55 minutes with a nice volley after his initial effort was blocked. A minute later Miles Cornwell was denied by Mitch Bromage’s legs, but suddenly Bridges responded in the 58th minute when Gayler’s cross from the right was headed home neatly by BRANNON O’NEILL.

This signalled a ten minute period of pressure from the visitors with Dan Perry heading just wide from O’Neill’s free kick. But as the bookings started to accumulate, Town started to look dangerous and Max Walsh came close following good work by substitute Danny Uchechi.

Ryan Brackpool had looked fairly comfortable in the heart of Bridges defence, but a poor header set up a break for Grinstead with UCHECHI getting clear to score. Mitch Bromage had to push away another good effort by Walsh and even the evergreen Steve Sargent tried to get into the action with a free kick that went just over the bar.

It just wasn’t Bridges day but the last lingering relegation fears for Grinstead were deservedly dismissed.

 Men of the Match – Kie Douglas (Grinstead), Brannon O’Neill (Bridges).

			Home				Away				Total
			P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
	C	Hastings United	18	13	2	3	19	14	2	3	37	27	4	6	81	31	+50	85
	2	Ashford United	18	11	4	3	19	11	2	6	37	22	6	9	78	46	+32	72
	3	Herne Bay	19	12	2	5	18	8	5	5	37	20	7	10	60	34	+26	67
	4	Haywards Heath Town	18	10	3	5	19	9	7	3	37	19	10	8	50	31	+19	67
	5	Cray Valley PM	18	9	4	5	19	10	5	4	37	19	9	9	70	47	+23	66
	6	Ramsgate	19	10	3	6	18	9	2	7	37	19	5	13	78	52	+26	62
	7	Burgess Hill Town	19	9	6	4	18	8	2	8	37	17	8	12	55	46	+9	59
	8	Corinthian	19	7	7	5	18	8	4	6	37	15	11	11	48	39	+9	56
	9	Sittingbourne	18	9	4	5	19	6	3	10	37	15	7	15	47	49	-2	52
	10	VCD Athletic	19	8	5	6	18	6	4	8	37	14	9	14	64	53	+11	51
	11	Chichester City	18	9	3	6	19	4	7	8	37	13	10	14	48	41	+7	49
	12	Faversham Town	19	10	3	6	18	3	4	11	37	13	7	17	42	56	-14	46
	13	Sevenoaks Town	19	9	1	9	18	5	2	11	37	14	3	20	52	65	-13	45
	14	Three Bridges	18	6	5	7	19	5	6	8	37	11	11	15	59	73	-14	44
	15	East Grinstead Town	19	8	5	6	18	2	5	11	37	10	10	17	35	65	-30	40
	16	Hythe Town	18	3	4	11	19	7	4	8	37	10	8	19	39	71	-32	38
	17	Whitehawk	19	4	7	8	18	4	5	9	37	8	12	17	37	53	-16	36
	18	Phoenix Sports	18	4	3	11	19	5	3	11	37	9	6	22	35	61	-26	33
	19	Lancing	19	5	4	10	18	3	5	10	37	8	9	20	33	65	-32	33
	20	Whitstable Town	18	4	4	10	19	4	2	13	37	8	6	23	39	72	-33	30