Matt Jones insists East Grinstead’s start to the season has exceeded expectations.

The champions made it four wins out of four with an impressive 4-2 victory away to third-placed Hampstead and Westminster.

While all the leading sides are missing players to the Commonwealth Games, Grinstead’s loss of Ashley Jackson, Glenn Kirkham, Gareth Carr and Niall Stott should not be underestimated.

Manager Jones knew Grinstead had a good squad to cope with the losses but admits maximum points after four games is a terrific achievement.

He said: “If you had asked me where we would be after four games before we got all our players back I would have thought we would be in a healthy position but four wins out of four is very promising.

“To look at the table and see a five-point gap between us and third place and further clear water on the likes of Surbiton and Reading, who we traditionally see as our main rivals, is very pleasing.

“We know the likes of Surbiton, Bowdon, Reading, Beeston and Loughborough will be reinforced by players coming back from the Commonwealth Games and we will see a very different face to the league over the next month as those players are reintegrated.

“But our good start has given us a bedrock to build on and we are very excited about our own players coming back to further strengthen the squad.”

Danny Hall gave Grinstead a third-minute lead after punishing a defensive slip-up and then added a second on 18 minutes following a flowing move.

Hampstead replied soon after from a short corner but Grinstead made it 3-1 two minutes into the second half with a fabulously taken deflected goal by Dave De Prez.

The home side responded again nine minutes from time with another good routine from a short corner but player-coach Mark Pearn made sure of victory after cutting the defence in half to finish with aplomb in the closing stages.

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