FOOTBALL: Arundel back on track after fine performance

Mullets had slipped to 15th in the County League Division 1 table, but Tuesday's performance has convinced Butlet they have nothing to worry about.

He said: "We played very well and as a unit, and we got what we deserved, despite the conditions not being brilliant.

"Consistency is the word for us and we need to get points on the board, but if we play like that we'll be fine.

"It was nice to keep a clean sheet and not pick up any cards, as discipline has been a bit of an issue recently.

"We have players to come back and we want more of the same. Previously, we were aiming for the top six but after a few dodgy results the top half will be good for us now."

Rob Grove had a shot saved, while Russell Hardwell was denied after being put through one-on-one, as Mullets threatened Hailsham early on.

The home side went close as Ryan Alexander headed wide on 23 minutes.

Matt Axell then fired Arundel ahead on 35 minutes, finishing a fantastic 15-pass move.

Axell drove home into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in a move which started from goalkeeper Ben O'Connor.

Josh Biggs then forced another save just before half-time.

Matt Huckett who had a good game, then struck just wide from Biggs' pass on 65 minutes.

Three minutes later, though, Mullets sealed the points. Hardwell put his free kick up-and-over the wall, which the goalkeeper could only parry, and Dave Walker sent it home.

Hailshaw did have a chance to set-up a nervy end on 85 minutes. Alexander broke through but O'Connor saved well at his ankles to deny the home side.

On Saturday, Dan Jacobs fired mid-table Hassocks ahead in the fifth minute before Mullets missed a whole host of chances.

Axell saw his effort saved before there were, incredibly, three goal-line clearances in the same passage of play.

Walker had the first one hit away, swiftly followed by Rory Biggs. From the clearance the ball came back in and Tipper's snapshot was also cleared off the line.

Anthony Hibbert netted Hassocks' second and after the usually prolific Gary Norgate saw his penalty, awarded for a foul by Jacobs, saved, before Nathan Miles fired home the third.

Walker pulled one back with a speculative long-range effort, before Phil Gault added the fourth in the 86th minute.

Butler said: "I'll never know how we lost the game, let alone it being 4-1. They didn't actually have that many chances at all. We didn't play that badly but missed too many chances."

ARUNDEL: O'Connor, Sneller, Grantham, Walker, Pickford; Hardwell, Grove, J.Biggs, Axell; Huckett, Norgate. Subs: Hall, R.Biggs (Sneller, Huckett 70), Towers.

v Hassocks: O'Connor; Sneller, Walker, Grantham, Hall; Hardwell, J.Biggs, R.Biggs, Axell; Norgate, Tipper. Subs: Pickford, Huckett (Grantham, Hall 76), Herbert (R.Biggs 81), Griffiths.

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