It’s Tip-top for lead scorer Scott

ARUNDEL Football Club front man Scott Tipper is delighted to have fired himself to the top of the County League Division 1 goalscorer’s table.

The prolific striker has netted 45 goals in all competitions this season, 36 in the league and nine in Mullets’ cup games, exceeding two targets 27-year-old Tipper set for himself over the course of the season.

Having netted 21 by Christmas, his initial target of 30, was rejigged to 40, one he comfortably made in netting his highest-ever season’s tally.

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He said: “It’s gone really well this year, as a team we would have really liked to have done better, but on a personal note it has been a really good season.

“I would have been more than happy with around 25 to 30 at the start of the season, so having got to Christmas with 21 already, I set another target of 40. So to get 45, I am delighted at that.

“I got 22 last year at Arundel and I have only had two full seasons here as I was out for a while with quite a bad injury.”

Having picked up a knee injury and needing a lateral release operation a couple of seasons back, Tipper missed 14 to 15 months of football, and the 2009-10 season was his first full one back.

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This season, Tipper has credited a full return to fitness for his excellent strike record.

He said: “My fitness has had a real effect this season. I have worked really hard, lost a bit of weight and it has been my longest run in the team. The year we finished second, I was struggling to get back into the side and last year was my first full year back.”

On whether he can produce such a high-scoring season next year, he said: “It’ll be hard, it all depends on how well I start I suppose. I got two in the first game this year and carried it on. I think I have gone only three games without scoring, so I have been pretty consistent.”

His favourite goal came in their 3-0 win over Three Bridges in January, where he hit two.

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He quipped: “If you ask my team-mates, they would probably say I only ever score penalties or tap-ins. But my favourite was probably at Three Bridges.

“The ball came across from the right, and I had my back to goal, but turned and curled it into the top corner.”

His season total beat his previous record by 16 goals, which he hit when playing at Chichester back in the 2004-05 season.

Arundel boss Simon Butler said: “Scott has been outstanding.

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“He appreciates the work done by all the other players and is no big-time Charlie.

“He’s very clinical in the box and is a pleasure to work with.

“He doesn’t moan about anything, always just gets on with things and gets on very well with all of the other players.”