Matt Jones insists his development plan for East Grinstead is bang on course.

Grinstead followed their first win back in the top flight of English hockey with a disappointing 3-0 reverse at home to Canterbury on Sunday.

The defeat - a second 3-0 loss in three games - left Grinstead third from bottom in the premier division.

But new manager Jones believes there were lots of positives to come out of a weekend which began with a 3-2 victory over Old Loughtonians.

Jones said: "We have all the foundations for a very successful side and that was reinforced by our performance against Old Loughtonians.

"I am disappointed after Sunday's defeat because we have played three games now in completely contrasting styles.

"We are finding our feet because we have a new side with a lot of new faces who we are trying to integrate.

"It takes a while to settle down and we have to accept while that happens we are not going to get consistent performances.

"Saturday's win was a great boost. It wasn't just the points, it gave us something to build on and it helped us confident wise.

"There were some good performances against Canterbury when we started to demonstrate that the side is coming together nicely but it also reinforced how fine the line is between winning and losing."

Grinstead failed to sparkle against a workmanlike Canterbury side who had lost their opening two games of the season.

The visitors punished two lapses in concentration to lead 2-0 at half-time. An improved second half showing had Canterbury on the back foot but Grinstead could not unlock a resolute defence.

The visitors went ahead after just seven minutes when Grinstead's defence were caught half asleep, allowing Matt Harper to sweep the ball into an empty net after Ben Hare's shot had come back off a post.

The warning signs were there before Canterbury's second.

Mike Holland made a goalline clearance to deny Peter Dobson and defender Dom Male produced a great stop to keep out Canterbury's second short corner.

A second goal finally arrived three minutes before the interval when goalkeeper George Harris thwarted Robert Playford following some more slack defending but Nick Buckingham was first to the loose ball for a simple finish.

Grinstead produced more intensity after the interval and Ashley Jackson was twice denied from short corners by visiting keeper Tom Sheridan.

Victory, though, was sealed two minutes from time when Mark Justice conceded a penalty stroke which Ed Butcher duly dispatched.

Justice had played well in a far deeper role than last season and was one of the positives for the home side.

Captain Richard Payne, pushed back into midfield from the sweeper role he filled last year, seemed to revel in the move while teenager Jackson and last year's top scorer Ben Payne proved they have the armoury to make an impact on this division.

Grinstead still have new player-coach Mark Pearn and the man he replaced, Kwan Browne, to come back. Any team would miss players of their quality and that is why Jones remains optimistic.

He said: "Those two will make a big difference but the boys can still cope as we showed against Guildford last week and Old Loughtonians.

"There were a lot of positives. The building process continues and we have a very strong bunch of guys mentally."

Mark Ansell hit a late winner against Old Loughtonians on Saturday after Grinstead had twice led through Dwain Quan Chan and Jackson.

East Grinstead: Harris, Holland, Male, Justice, Ashdown, R.Payne, Jackson, Quan Chan, Ansell, B.Payne, Gilkes. Subs: Rogers, Medcalf, Howarth, Akande, Harms.

Goals: None.

Yellow cards: Justice (68 min).

Canterbury: Sheridan, Pedersen, Dunn, Playford, Keir, B.Hare, Richardson, Butcher, Harper, S.Hare, Buckingham. Subs: Walsh, Dowsing, Dobson, Stevens, Cowling.

Goals: Harper F, Buckingham F, Butcher PS.

Yellow cards: Richardson (64 min).

Short corners: East Grinstead 6, Canterbury 5.

Umpires: Rob Graham, Tony Kelleher.

Man-of-the-match: Ashley Jackson - at the hub of all attacks.