Arundel fight back to claim Westfield draw
Arundel and Westfield shared the points at Mill Road in a closely contested SCFL Division 1 encounter.
Westfield hit the woodwork twice late on, while crucial saves from James Fernandes helped Arundel preserve the draw.
The visitors finished with ten men after Harry Murphy received a second yellow card late on.
Arundel were welcoming Westfield to Mill Road for the first time, with both sides sitting in mid-table.
Westfield made the brighter start, enjoying more possession and using wide areas effectively against Arundel’s three-man defence. A series of early crosses caused concern without seriously testing the goal, before good work down the right led to Pethig opening the scoring with an angled finish.
Arundel responded positively and gradually gained a foothold. Harrison Mott and Olly Claydon competed strongly in midfield, winning tackles and supplying Sam Pearson and Olly Humphries in attack.
In-form Stobart was a constant threat out wide, using his touch and pace to deliver several dangerous crosses that narrowly eluded the forwards.
The hosts came close to an equaliser when Jordan Dudas rose well to meet a corner, only to head narrowly over from ten yards.
Arundel began the second half with renewed purpose and drew level in the 52nd minute. Stobart cut in from the left to get on the end of a great pass from Lewis Hamilton and fired a superb shot into the top-right corner from 15 yards.
The contest remained evenly balanced as both sides hunted a winner. Substitute Devontee Williams and Pearson went close for Arundel, but neither could find the decisive finish.
Westfield took control during the final ten minutes, forcing the home side to defend resolutely and twice striking the post. Fernandes then produced two vital saves in the closing five minutes, tipping a powerful header over the bar before getting down low to stop a fierce close-range effort.
Just before the final whistle, Westfield were reduced to ten men when Murphy received a second yellow card after being adjudged to have gone to ground in the penalty area following a last-ditch challenge from Daegan Walsh.
Arundel are 15th in tha table and go to Worthing United on Saturday following a midweek home game against Saltdean.