Arundel pick up first point of the season

With both sides having played just five league games but occupying the bottom two places of the table, it is tempting to say that this was already a six-pointer, and therefore it was inevitable that the scores finished level.

There was an element of panic from both sides on a blustery night with the long ball clearly favoured by the two teams.

The first half was relatively even with Shoreham putting together a couple of good moves, centred around playmaker Michael Standing.

In the 36th minute Gareth Green stabbed the ball through to Standing who opted to square to Dominic Shepherd rather than shoot, but had it not been for a strong left hand from James Fernandes in the Mullets’ goal, Standing’s decision would have paid dividends.

The visitors went into the break ahead though as Russell Hardwell, who looked a constant threat on the right wing, crossed for Scott Tipper to nod past rookie goalkeeper James Witham with just a minute to go until the break.

Tipper had a chance to double Arundel’s lead just two minutes into the second half when Liam O’Brien’s missed his header, but the striker’s volley was well wide of the mark.

Josh Biggs was also guilty of squandering a good opportunity on 63 minutes as he shot straight at Witham when well placed.

Arundel were left to rue these missed chances on 76 minutes as the linesman saw Rory Biggs pull back Shepherd in the box and substitute Charlie Walker sent Fernandes the wrong way from the penalty spot to level the scores.

Shoreham tried desperately for a winner and nearly got one when Shepherd’s flick found Alex Fair but his toe-poke effort was blocked by the advancing Fernandes. Arundel almost stole all three points when Lewis Hamilton headed just over from another Hardwell cross in the first minute of stoppage time.

The home side were lucky to finish the game with 11 men when Rob Boddy only received a yellow card having elbowed Gary Norgate right in front of the referee in the final minute of the game, but honours were even at the whistle and neither manager could really argue with a point.

Arundel caretaker boss and chairman Bob Marchant said: “I thought both sides tried to play in the right areas but it was a fair result.

“We’re just trying to get a bit of stability at the moment with all the comings and goings so far this season, so overall I thought we did well.

“There’s a really good team spirit and everyone feels that we’re moving in the right direction.”

ARUNDEL: Fernandes; Peake, L.Walker, D.Walker, R.Biggs; Grove, J.Biggs, Hamilton, Hardwell; Tipper, Norgate. Subs: Turney (J.Biggs 90), Hunter, Hall.