Mullets grab late equaliser against Rye

Mullets had to come from behind twice in order to do so in the County League Division 1 match, including the equaliser in the last minute.

The visitors, who play in the John O’Hara Cup Final on Friday, fielded an unfamiliar side, with star man Duncan McArthur named as a substitute but never actually donning kit of any description during the evening.

Arundel took the lead after just 16 minutes after some good work down the right wing by Russ Hardwell, whose cutback found Howard Neighbour on the edge of the area. His initial shot appeared to going wide until it was deflected onto the upright and in.

The lead lasted just nine minutes as Rye made their presence felt from a set piece. The impressive Matt MacLean’s free kick found Dominic Clarke at the back post, leaving Ben O’Connor with no chance.

The visitors were ahead just three minutes later when Neighbour dithered over a clearance and Neil Winton’s deflected cross was met by another towering Clarke header.

It could have been worse for Mullets had Dave Walker’s handball inside the area been spotted by the referee late in the first half.

The second half saw Arundel level the scores just 10 minutes in when Hardwell’s free kick was flicked in to the near post by Neighbour.

Lessons clearly had not been learned from the first half as Clarke was allowed another free header but this time his accuracy let him down. Rye’s other frontman Kele Buay saw his header cleared off the line by Alex Biggs and MacLean saw a volley rebound off the post to safety.

The 75th minute saw Rye deservedly take the lead when Buay scored at the second time of asking.

Arundel earned a point in contentious fashion in the final minute of normal time when Alex Biggs’ shot was adjudged to have crossed the line by the assistant referee, much to Rye’s dismay, and the home side could have clinched all three points when Scott Tipper’s volley was well saved in injury-time.

Mullets boss Simon Butler said: “I was pleased with a point and I felt we deserved something from the game.

“Our third goal was a bit contentious but we could have won had Scott’s volley gone in.”

ARUNDEL: O’Connor, A.Biggs, L.Walker, D.Walker, Hall; Hardwell, R.Biggs, Grove, J.Biggs, Neighbour, Tipper. Subs: Rance (R.Biggs 66), Hamilton, Sneller, Griffiths.