Full report to follow.

Team: O’Connor; Hall, D.Walker(capt), McCoy; Hamilton, Biggs, Grove, Coleman-Carr; Norgate, Neighbour (Tewsley), Tipper.

Full report to follow

Team: O’Connor; Hall, D.Walker(capt), McCoy; Hamilton, Biggs, Grove, Coleman-Carr; Norgate, Neighbour (Tewsley), Tipper.

The home side came out the traps quickly catching an inform Wick side off gaurd.

After a number of half chances were wasted in the opening ten minutes the Mullets eventually took the lead as early as the 12th minute.

Defensive hesitancy in the Wickers box saw the ball fall kindly for Matt Huckett who did well to control in on the half volley and fire into the roof of the net past former Mullet stopper Alex Bryant.

Bryant was picking the ball out of his net again just five minutes later.

Again is was poor defensive play by the away side that gave the ball away deep in their own half and iteventually found its way to Josh Biggs who turned the ball home from an angle he had no right to and give the Mullets a 2 goal advantage.

The reds will have been wary of their inablility to hold onto leads this season, none more so as last weeks draw with Peacehaven where a 2-0 lead was thrown away in the final 15 minutes and those fears were compounded on the half hour mark when a ball into the box found Scott Murfin who was clipped from behind by Rob Grove and referee Daniel Austin didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot.

It was Murfin himself who stepped up for the kick and although former Wick teamate Ben O’Connor guessed right the kick was too powerful and the way side were back in the game.

Bouyed by the goal it wasn’t long before they levelled the game.

In the 34th minute good wing play by George Gaskin set Scott Murfin away down the right who crossed for brother Neil to smash home at the far post despite the presence of a host of Mullets defenders in the box.

Having dominated the first quarter of the game it was most definately the visitors who were enjoying the second part of the first period and they nearly completed the comeback in double quick time before the break when Luke Huggett’s glancing header came back off an upright.

Manager Richard Towers had to re-organise his team at the break after a 20 minute period with their backs to the walls and they came out a lot better in the second half, enjoying the majority of attacking posession without creating too many clear cut chances.

They did nearly take the lead when Russ Hardwell found himself on the left where he cut inside Ben Torode before delivering a teasing cross that Gary Norgate was inches away from converting but in the end he couldn’t get his head to the ball and Bryant was able to clear.

As the half wore on it was becoming more and more likely that one goal would settle this derby and with a quarter of an half remaining it was the away side that got it.

Scott Murfin broke the Mullets offside trap and raced away down the right. The defence failed to clear his low cross into the box and after a couple of ricochets it fell to Luke Huggett who’s heavily deflected drive found it’s way passed O’Connor in the home goal.

The Wickers set back after this, happy to defend their one goal lead which led to some inevitable pressure from the home side which came in the form a succession of corners which invariably came to nothing.

The Mullets felt they should have had the opportunity to draw level from the penalty spot when Wick defender Luis Freitas appeared to clearly handle the ball in his attempts to stop Howard Neighbour’s run into the box but Mr Austin disagreed and waved play on and with that went any chance of the reds salvaging a point and they were left to reflect on another defeat having been in a winning position.

Team: O’Connor; Sneller, Walker, Grove, Axell; Hardwell, Biggs(R), Biggs(J)(capt), Neighbour, Norgate, Huckett (Tipper).  Subs not used: Grantham, Hall, Pickford.

The Mullets recorded their first goalless draw for over two seasons as neither they or basement club Mile Oak could break the deadlock in a drab affair at Mile Oak Rec.

It was obvious from the outset it was going to be more of a battle than anything pretty with a playing surface not conjusive to good football and both teams in need of the 3 points to ease fears of relegation.

The home side started the brighter, without creating any clearcut opportunites while the Mullets struggling to get any rhythem going.

The best chance of a poor first half fell in the final minute of it when a corner from the left by Josh Biggs found Scott Tipper, who rose well in the 6 yard box but his goal bound header was cleared off the line by a Oak defender.

The home side had the first chance of the second half when the lively Ransome turned and shot in the box but he dragged his effort just wide of the far post.

The away side slowly started to put some more incisive attacking moves together and a good team move bought about the best chance of the game for Russ Hardwell who was found in space on the right by Howard Neighbour but one on one with the keeper Hardwell fired his shot into the side netting.

Neighbour then had an opportunity minutes later when a low cross eluded everyone and found him at the back post but the pitch played it’s part and he was unable to control the shot, blazing it high over the bar.

Steve Sneller clipped the crossbar with a speculative half volley and at the other end Paine forced a good save from a free kick but both sides had to settle for a point in a game with not much to write home about.

Team: O’Connor; Sneller, Walker(D), Pickford, Axell; Hardwell, Biggs(R), Biggs(J)(capt), Norgate (Huckett); Neighbour, Tipper. Not used. Grantham.

Full report to follow

Team: O’Connor; Sneller, Walker, Grove, Jones; Boem (Tipper), Biggs(R), Biggs(J)(capt), Axell (Grantham); Neighbour, Norgate.

The  Mullets started the game well enough shooting into a strong wind in the first half and nearly took the lead through a Matt Huckett free kick which flew just wide of the post with the Chi keeper stranded.

The home side were also creating chances and should have taken the lead when Ben Vasallo was put through on goal and with Ben O’Connor rushing off his line to close the angle, Vasallo’s attempt at lob ended up bouncing harmlessly wide.

It was once again sloppy defending that cost the reds late in the first half and within a blink of an eye they found themselves 2 goals down in a matter of minutes.

Firsly a harmless ball into the box wasn’t dealt with well by Tom Pickford, who’s clearance only acted as a lay off to Callum Cutler on the edge of the box who’s driven shot took a wicked deflection into the top corner leaving O’Connor with no chance.

Just minutes later it was 2, this time the goal coming from the penalty spot after James Temple was hauled down by O’Connor as he attempted to round him and the Arundel stopper was booked for the challenge.

Barry McCoy stepped up and cooley sent O’Connor the wrong way from 12 yards to put the home side firmly in control.

The two goal advantage only lasted a couple of minutes though as the Mullets were awarded a penalty of there own.  Russ Hardwell sent in a dangerous free kick from the right and Rob Grove was blatantly pulled down as he attempted to get on the end of it and although Scott Tipper did bundle the ball over the line referee Daniel Austin had already given the spot kick.

Tipper stepped up and did get his goal placing the ball down the center on the goal to bring the Mullets back in the game going into half time.

It was the hosts however who started the second period on the front foot and extended their lead on the hour mark.  A good run down the channel by Temple found him at the byline.  His cut back was missed first by Paul Grantham attempting to clear and then Vasallo’s attempt to score before James Ford arrived at the back post to tap home.

The Mullets then had two golden opportunities to get themselves back in the game but failed to take either.  First it was Matt Huckett who pounced on a loose ball in the box but couldn’t keep the ball down and blazed over from 6 yards.

Minutes later a great cross by Hardwell found Tipper free at the far post but his powerful downward header again from 6 yards out flashed wide of the post and they were made to play with just under 20 minutes left when the hosts wrapped the game up with the simplest of forth goals.

James Temple was the scorer who pealed off the near post from a corner unchallenged to send a looping header over  O’Connor and into the net to complete the visitors misery.

They had chances to increase the lead further in the remaining minutes and there was still time for the Mullets to miss another great chance, Dave Walker heading over from close range after he was found by a Matt Axell free kick.

Team: O’Connor; Pickford, Walker, Grantham, Axell; Hardwell, Grove (Jones), Biggs(J)(capt) (Boem), Neighbour; Tipper, Huckett (Herbert).

Full report to follow.

Team: Griffiths; Jones, Grantham, Norgate, Pickford (Williams); Hardwell, Grove, Neighbour (capt), Axell; Tipper, Huckett (Herbert). Subs not used: Browne.

Full report to follow

Team: O’Connor (Tipper); Hall, Grantham, Pickford, Axell; Hardwell, Biggs(J), Grove, Neighbour; Norgate, Huckett.

On a night where a thick fog threatened the gamegoing ahead, a goal in each half from Matt Axell andDave Walker’s second in two games were enough to give the team the win.

The away side started the game the better,managing to get the ball down on a testing playing surface and created the first clear cut chance of thegame when a good through ball by the returning Matt Huckett found Russ Hardwell in a one onesituation. The Hailsham keeper stayed big thoughand managed to block the wingers effort.

The defence was still looking slightly shaky, as the hosts enjoyed a good 10 minute spell, still reeling from the 4 goals concended at home to Hassocksin the previous game but the ball didn’t drop to anyof the home forwards and when it did the Mullets defence were getting bodies in the way.

The break through came ten minutes before half time. Following a good team move, Josh Biggs’ run across the box and back heel gave Matt Axell a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box and his low drive beat the keeper low down into the far corner.

The second half nearly started in disaterous fashion for the Mullets as a free kick fromt the Hailsham right in the opening minutes flashed across the goal and just wide with no home players able to applythe finishing touch.

Dave Walker fresh from his goal at the weekend then had a goal disollowed for a push in the box before his strike that did count with 20 minutes remaining that gave the reds the breathing space they needed.

Gary Norgate was fouled on the edge of the area and Russ Hardwell stepped up to take the free kick. He hit it low and hard across the keeper who could only parry it with the ball bouncing awkwardly infront of him and Walker pounced from inside the six yard box to bundle the ball home.

After that the visitors were content with what they had and set their sights on securing a confidence boosting clean sheet.

The Stringers pushed more people forward in an attempt to get back into the game, this bought about opportunities on the break for the away side who could have added more in the final minutes with Josh Biggs missing two presentable opportunites, while Ryan Alexander nearly pulled one back for the home side after a mistake by Axell allowed him a shooting chance but O’Connor clawed the ball away from the near post and out for a corner.

The final whistle followed ending a perfect night of 3 points, a win, clean sheet and no injuries.

Team: O’Connor; Sneller (Hall), Grantham, Walker, Pickford; Grove, Biggs(J)(capt), Hardwell, Axel; Norgate, Huckett (Biggs(R)).

Midfielder Rory Biggs saw red with around 15 minutes to play after a recklace challenge earned him a second yellow card within a matter of minutes, following a rather harsh first minutes earlier for kicking the ball away. This left the ten men to try and hang onto a one goal lead they had at the time, given to them by Josh Biggs late in the first half.

Good work by Scott Tipper freed Biggs down the right who cut in and sent a cross-shot across the box but with the slice on the ball and with the aid of a bobbly pitch it crept in at the far post.

The play up until that point had been fairly even with both sides enjoying their share of posession without creating too many clearcut chances. The Arundel defence had to clear a number of balls into the box that luckily didn’t fall for any of the hosts fowards, while Roy Pook was occupying both David Walker and Paul Grantham with some good runs in the channel.

The biggest scare for the visitors came after they had taken the lead when Ben O’Connor took his eye off an overhit through and let it run under his foot and

towards the empty net. O’Connor scampered back towards goal and gratefully smothered the ball before it crossed the line in what could have been an embarrassing moment for the usually very reliable stopper.

The away side were convinced they should have had the opportunity to go into the break two up when the ball clearly struck the outstretched arm of the ‘Haven right back in the box but the referee for some reason appeared disinterested.

As the second half began it became evident that the Mullets would be happy to contain their hosts in a bid to hang onto the one goal lead they had earned in the first period. This appeared to be going to plan as the reds defence was dealing with everything the home side could throw at them, limiting them to a handful of shooting opportunities from long range.

The mood changed though with 15 minutes remaining when Biggs was giving his marching orders and it was immediately going to be a backs to the wall job to hang on. Richard Towers left Gary Norgate and Scott Tipper upfront in a bid to occupy the home defence but Peacehaven began to enjoy more and more posession and exert extreme pressure on the Mullets goal.

This pressure eventually paid off with 7 minutes of the ninety remaining in rather fortuadous circumstances. Much like the Mullets goal in the first half, defender Craig Hall sent in what was most definately a cross from the right hand side, but it sailed over all his awaiting teammates in the box and caught O’Connor off guard and he was unable to claw it over the bar and the home side were level and looking to snatch it late on.

They thought they were going to be given the opportunity in stoppage time when they appealed strongly for a penalty but it was waved away by the referee who eventually cautioned the home player for simulation.

Team: O’Connor; Pickford (Sneller), Grantham, Walker, Hall; Biggs(R), Biggs(J), Neighbour, Axell (Huckett); Norgate, Tipper.