Exceptional’ Mullets reach the semi-finals

Scott Tipper bagged a brace against Eastbourne Town on Saturday

A Scott Tipper brace and goals from Alex Biggs and Liam Da Costa meant Mullets overcame County League leaders Town and reached the last four for the first time in six years.

Arundel boss Simon Butler felt it was his side’s best display of the season and said: “I was absolutely delighted with the result and performance.

“I think it was our best match of the season so far and some of the football at times was exceptional.

“A lot of people will look and say that they had two men sent off and it was easy for us but that was not the case.

“The first sending off came when we were two goals ahead and the second came after the final whistle. I felt we still would have won the game had they had 11 men on the pitch.

“It’s great to get this club back in the semi-finals of this competition. The chairman was delighted at the end of the game and a few fans said that was the best they had seen us play in a long while.”

Arundel took the lead on 26 minutes when Biggs headed home a Jordan Clark corner.

Tipper should have doubled his side’s advantage soon afterwards but shot wide after being played in by Nathan Da Costa.

It was 2-0 a minute before the break when Barney Boutwood played in Tipper, who coolly slotted past the Eastbourne goalkeeper.

The visitors should have pulled a goal back five minutes after the break but Ross Sutton headed over from close range.

The away side were then reduced to ten men when Andrew Henson received a second yellow card.

Arundel then netted for a third time in the contest through Tipper on 66 minutes.

The home side added a fourth late on as two substitutes combined with Ricky Gardner squaring for Liam Da Costa, who finished well.

The visitors’ captain Ross Sutton was then shown his second yellow card after the final whistle for dissent.

ARUNDEL: Fernandes; Jenkins, Heward, Peake, Walker; N.Da Costa, Clark, A.Biggs, R.Biggs; Boutwood, Tipper. Subs: L.Da Costa (N.DaCosta), Gardner (R.Biggs), Grove, Wilson.

Mullets’ Sussex RUR Cup home tie with Midhurst on Tuesday was postponed, owing to a waterlogged pitch.