Arundel FC

A lackluster display by the Mullets resulted in a spirited Crowborough side continuing their current good form by completing a league double over the Mullets with a 2-1 victory at the Crowborough Community Stadium.

The team travelled to Crowborough missing Matt Axell and Phil Archibald suspended while Tom Pickford, Russell Hardwell, Rob Grove and Lloyd Walker were injured/unavailable, and manager Richard Towers started the game with an interesting team selection, deploying forwards Gary Norgate and Howard Neighbour in a 3 man central midfield with Rory Biggs while Josh Biggs and Dan Bassil were to provide support to Scott Tipper from the wings.

The first half proved to be a dour affair with little goalmouth action at either end with both teams struggling to string passes together on a difficult service.  Dan Bassil dragged the first effort of note harmlessly wide from the edge of the area and Dave Adams should have done better with a header from a corner which also went wide before the hosts took the lead just minutes before the break.

A seemingly innocuous ball over the Arundel defence appeared to be heading into the arms of Ben O’Connor but Crows forward Sam Carrington chased it down and managed to get a toe on the ball ahead of the Mullets stopper allowing him the time and space to slot into an empty net.

A much improved performance was needed in the second half and the Mullets enjoyed their best spell of the game around the hour mark.  First Rory Biggs’ long range effort sailed just wide of the left hand upright with Rob Gordon stranded in the home goal, then minutes later an inswinging cross by Dave Hall was flicked on by Howard Neighbour with Scott Tipper just inches away from converting the ball at the back post.

This period of pressure eventually told when Gary Norgate was hauled down in the box, which gave the striker the chance to score on his first game back at the club since re-signing this week.  Norgate stepped up confidently and sent Gordon the wrong way to bring the sides level.

The visitors pushed for the winner after that and Scott Tipper came close minutes after Norgate’s equiliser but his volley from the edge of the area grazed the outside of the post.

Arundel were always susceptible to a break away from the home side and so it proved with 10 minutes remaining when the Mullets defence failed to clear a ball into the box, substitute Charlie Ottway turned well and despite Scott Tipper’s efforts to clear the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line to give the home side something to hold onto for the remaining few minutes.

In reality the onslaught from the visitors never came and Crowborough’s delight at the final whistle was evident as they completed a league double over the Mullets to further improve their chances of staying in the division this season.

The result comes as a setback for the team who’s own league form had been decent prior to this defeat but they must pick themselves up for a tough looking trip to Redhill on Tuesday evening.

Team:  O’Connor; Sneller, Hall, Walker(D), Grantham; Biggs(R), Neighbour, Norgate, Biggs(J) (capt), Bassil; Tipper. Subs: Tewsley (Bassil)