Arundel suffer defeat at Crawley Down

Mullets had a squad of just 13 players, which included boss Gary Wheatcroft and reserve keeper Rhys Griffiths on the bench, and they also felt refereeing decisions went against them on the night.

Arundel put in an impressive first-half display and were just one down at the break, but assistant manager Simon Butler was unhappy with a number of decisions, particularly midfielder Rob Grove seeing red for a second booking – his second dismissal in as many games.

He did, however, praise those players who made the journey and took a positive from summer signing Rob Wimble making his first start and coming through the 90 minutes.

Butler said: “I can’t blame the players as those who were there played really well, especially in the first half.

“I feel a bit dejected as we have all these unavailabilities, with players having weekends away, holidays, and then combine that with injuries and suspensions, it’s frustrating.

“I don’t normally speak about referees but he was over-zealous on the card front, both teams weren’t happy. I felt sorry for Rob, as there was not one bad tackle in 90 minutes. Somehow, we got a red, five yellows and they got two or three, but neither of Rob’s tackles were even fouls.

“Bottom line is we’ve conceded 10 in two games and that just isn’t acceptable, although it is down to personnel. We are pleased with where we are in the league, though, from what we’ve had available.”

Down’s Tom Lyons opened the scoring on 11 minutes with an angled, but scuffed effort, before Mullets’ Dave Walker had a shot cleared off the line and Scott Tipper also went close.

Nick Sullivan made it 2-0 on 50 minutes, before getting a second seven minutes later when Ben O’Connor fumbled his shot. Tipper went close twice, before Walker got a goal back with a crisp strike from 20 yards out. Lyons then netted in the 74th and 85th minutes to complete his hat-trick, before Grove saw red.

On Saturday Arundel were dumped out of the FA Vase by then County League leaders Three Bridges 5-2 after extra-time.

From the moment Ellis Hooper put Bridges in front on 19 minutes, Mullets were up against it, and when George Hillier made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time with a penalty, Arundel were staring elimination in the face.

However, Mullets rallied in the second half and Lewis Hamilton made it 2-1 with a free kick on 60 minutes.

Leading scorer Tipper then equalised from a Hamilton pass on 74 minutes with his 12th goal of the season, and suddenly Arundel were in the ascendancy.

But they were reduced to 10 men in the final minute when Grove received his second yellow card for dissent.

They then went down to nine men in extra-time, when Lloyd Walker was dismissed, and extra-time goals from Dean Carden, Lee Carney and Ashley Dugdale gave Bridges £900 prize money and a place in the first round proper.

Mullets assistant manager Simon Butler said: “We were the better side, but I was disappointed with Rob as it’s a lack of discipline and I believe it cost us.

“The performance was good, though, and I thought they were beatable, but we were never going to win the Vase and the league is more important, in which I believe we’ve got a decent chance.”

Mullets are at division-lower Worthing United in the John O’Hara Cup first round on Saturday.

ARUNDEL v Crawley Down: O’Connor; Sneller, D.Walker, L.Walker, Hall; Turney, Grove, Gardener, Norgate; Wimble, Tipper. Subs: Wheatcroft, Griffiths.

v Three Bridges: O’Connor; Sneller, L.Walker, D.Walker, Hall; Hardwell, Gardner, Grove, Neighbour; Norgate; Tipper. Subs: Hamilton (Hardwell 20), Turney (Neighbour 70), Meaney (Tipper 110), Griffiths, Wimble.