FOOTBALL: Arundel face tough FA Cup test

Mullets head into the game at Woodside Road on the back of a 4-2 home defeat to Pagham in County League Division 1 on Tuesday evening but Wheatcroft is confident his side can bounce back.

The winners will seal a place in the first qualifying round and bank a 1,500 win bonus, but it will be a tough test for Mullets against their Ryman Division 1 South opponents.

They hope to welcome back captain Dave Walker, Luca Coleman-Carr, Lewis Hamilton and Lloyd Walker, while Russell Hardwell, who went off with an ankle ligament injury on Tuesday, Matt Axell and Howard Neighbour, who both picked up knocks, look set to miss out.

Wheatcroft said: "It'll be a tough game and if we can get the boys in and playing then I think we can win it, even without the likes of Russ Hardwell.

"We go in as underdogs so we have a great chance. The boys don't fear them, we will go there on a big pitch, in front of a big crowd and use a system that will give us a chance.

"The winners face Peacehaven or Ashford Town and get a nice bit of money, which will be great for the club, as well as the gate money from Saturday. The boys will definitely rise to the occasion."

On Tuesday, Pagham's James Temple opened the scoring when his header gave Ben O'Connor no chance in the Arundel goal.

Mullets, however, levelled things up just three minutes later. Hardwell was bought down in the penalty area and Scott Tipper scored from the spot.

Scott Murfin restored Pagham's lead on 25 minutes after the ball rebounded off O'Connor.

Matt Axell soon equalised for Arundel with a long-range shot from the left after a well-worked, passing move.

Arundel then went close before the break as Daren Pearce headed the ball off the line from Tipper's effort. Mullets also had a penalty appeal waved away when Gary Norgate went down.

An unmarked Temple netted his second and Pagham's third on 60 minutes. He picked up the ball from a throw-in and was allowed to cut into the area and strike home.

As Arundel pushed for an equaliser, Pagham capitalised and sealed the win two minutes from time when Michael Frangou headed in.

Despite a shaky start in the league, with seven points from five games, Wheatcroft has not written his side off yet, and is still as confident as ever of their title challenge, despite injury set-backs.

He said: "It was one where you had to be there as we literally gave them three goals. We battered them for the first 15 minutes and then gave silly goals away.

"It's upsetting as I think, with a full squad, we would have been unbeaten by now. Although we are playing good passing football, which is nice.

"I will put my neck on the line and say if everyone was fit no one in the league would beat us, or it would be very difficult, that is with the whole 19.

"There are no real worries, we haven't lost it yet (the league), we are only six points behind now and there are still 99 points to play for."

ARUNDEL: O.Connor; McCoy, Grove, Sneller, Hall; Hardwell, Gardner, Norgate, Neighbour, Axell; Tipper. Subs: Hamilton (Axell 75), Turney (Hardwell 70), L.Walker, Griffiths.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]