Arundel target RUR Cup success

Mullets, who will travel to fellow County League Division 1 side Redhill in the last eight, made heavy weather of the tie, which they dominated in the first half and should have won handsomely.

Relieved Arundel manager Gary Wheatcroft said after the game: “This is a cup we feel we can win. If we do that and consolidate our league position then I think it will have been a successful season.

“We are looking to bring in a couple of new faces as I can’t seem to field the same side from one game to the next, but we’re getting there.”

As early as the ninth minute, Josh Biggs, a thorn in the Seaford side for most of the night, hit the post after getting a toe onto a through ball from strike partner Scott Tipper.

The inevitable breakthrough did come just before the half-hour when Tipper again turned provider, laying the ball off to Rory Biggs, who fired home neatly into the bottom corner.

Arundel should perhaps have put another sugar in their half-time tea as they came out very slowly, and Seaford’s long throw became a real threat.

Just four minutes in and Ben O’Connor in the Mullets goal flapped at a throw and the scuffed defensive clearance ended up in the bottom corner via Liam Keith’s back.

Three minutes later, Seaford right-winger Simon Stevens cut the ball back to Steve Dallaway and he smashed home unopposed from close range.

Arundel got a slice of luck from referee Paul Barrett to draw level when he awarded them a free kick for what seemed like an excellent Seaford tackle. Josh Biggs’ shot deflected into the top corner to level the scores.

Barrett then turned down a clear penalty for the visitors after a clumsy challenge by Jon Meeney with just five minutes remaining, allowing Matt Axell to break and run unchallenged into the Seaford half, where he squared the ball to an unmarked Howard Neighbour, and he did the rest.

With Seaford pushing for an equaliser, Tipper won a good challenge on the half-way line, played in Josh Biggs who then played the ball back to Tipper, who scored his 21st goal of the season, and it was two goals in as many minutes for Mullets to make it 4-2.

There was still time, however, for Seaford to score through Dallaway again. His close range volley was fumbled over the line by O’Connor, but it was too little, too late, for the visitors.

ARUNDEL: O’Connor; A.Biggs, Sneller, D.Walker, Meeney; R.Biggs, Grove, Neighbour, Axell; J.Biggs, Tipper. Subs: Burton, Gardner, Griffiths.

Mullets assistant manager Simon Butler slammed his team’s showing on Saturday when they fell to their eighth league defeat of the season with a 2-0 setback at Selsey in County League Division 1.

Butler said: “We were dreadful and looked an average side.

“Our preparation was poor as we had three players drop out in the morning, the attitude of some of our players is unacceptable and they miss games without valid reasons.

“Collectively, we were dire, though, and everything went wrong for us.

“Ben O’Connor and Rory Biggs were our best players, but it was not good enough”

Mullets’ Josh Biggs struck a post before Selsey went ahead a minute before half-time. Josh Biggs’ handball led to the award of a penalty, which was fired home by ex-Mullet Max Thoms.

Stewart Souter then doubled the lead in first-half injury time to leave Mullets facing an uphill battle.

Another Thoms spot-kick was saved by the impressive O’Connor, and he also denied Jamie Parsons and Souter again, while Arundel’s best second-half chance fell to Scott Tipper, who shot wide.

Mullets host East Grinstead in the league on Saturday and then travel to Sidley in the Sussex Senior Cup second round on Tuesday.

ARUNDEL: O’Connor; D.Walker, A.Biggs, Grove, R.Biggs; Hamilton, Gardner, Axell, Meeney; J.Biggs, Tipper. Subs: L.Walker (D.Walker 20), Wheatcroft (L.Walker 38), Griffiths (Wheatcroft 67).