A Puzzle By Phibs ( Crossword )

[Matakari]

Good evening, I was just about to abandon this one when suddenly I think I saw the light concerning the “Mates”. But I need to confirm some answers to a few clues before I proceed any further. Many thanks in advance!

( Mates
I wanted to include eight pairs of similarly linked items in the grid, but two of the sixteen had to be hidden slightly differentl from the rest. Which are they? )

ACROSS:
8 Frittering away salary entertaining a vacuous starlet (7) : D?S?O?E ( DISPOSE)
11 Deplores guidelines lacking latitude (4) : E?E? ( EYES )
14 Block dating app husband opens for short time (6) : H?N?E? ( HANGER )
24 Take every pass (5) : R?A?H ( REACH )

DOWN:
7 Adjoining main street, area bordered by very old wood? (7) : C?A?T?L ( COASTAL )
25 Consumed odds and ends from outside Indian restaurant (5) : S?E?T ( SWEET )
27 One's inclined to stomp but not tango (4) : ?A?P ( RAMP )

[Matakari]

Thanks, all, I'll give this a rest and come back fresh in the morning
to find the eight pairs. And, NACW, I would be happy to get a copy of the Guardian Genius Puzzle to keep testing the brain. Thanks in advance!

[bobbinwales]

So your happy with spent?
Its much more logical than sweet to meunless am missing something obvious- how did you arrive at sweet??

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari - you'll maybe get on better with tackling the pairs! The Guardian Genius is... not at all testing, it's very simple and straightforward (and easier than that recent Chalicea one). The Guardian puzzles are available on the website, I expect you'll have seem earlier ones.

[Neveracrossword]

Bobbinwales, like you I couldn't justify Sweet - and Matakari didn't satisfy my curiosity when I asked!

[bobbinwales]

Am puzzled by EYES aswell for 11...just cant see it, RUES is good but maybe am looking at these wrong but EYES just looks random to me

[Neveracrossword]

Bobbinwales, I think 'random' is a good description of some of the answered offered by Matakari!