Mullets win replay to progress in FA Cup

The sides had drawn 2-2 at Mill Road on Saturday and the replay also took place at Arundel owing to cricket still being played on Sidley’s pitch.

Sidley were the faster out of the blocks on Tuesday and stunned Arundel by taking the lead after just one minute when Paul Tuppeney found the bottom corner with a curling free kick from 20 yards.

Arundel found it difficult to get into the game in the first half but came out with more purpose in the second half. Sidley keeper Gavin Bourne kept out a Scott Tipper header, before Russell Hardwell got clear down the right and picked out Tipper, who nodded in from six yards on 51 minutes.

After the equaliser, Arundel started to play some decent football and chances for Tipper and Howard Neighbour came and went.

Sidley were also a threat and forced some good saves from Mullets substitute keeper Maciej Kason, with efforts from Scott McDonald and Chris Agutter.

In the end, neither team could make the breakthrough in the 90 minutes, but eight minutes into extra-time, some excellent play from Neighbour assisted Tipper, who finished neatly.

In the second half of extra-time, Arundel started to run rampant and Lewis Hamilton clinched the tie when he poked the ball under Bourne.

Sidley’s tiredness was beginning to tell and Billy Rayner drilled in a fourth before Tipper completed his hat-trick to make it 5-1.

Mullets will travel to Banstead Athletic in the next round and joint manager Gary Block said: “I think our fitness showed in extra-time and that’s what made the difference.

“I gave them a right talking to at half-time because I thought our defending as a team was shocking, but I knew we always had goals in us and in the end it showed.”

On Saturday, Marc Munday headed Sidley into an 11th-minute lead before Mullets levelled on 25 minutes when Gary Norgate scored a penalty, following handball in the area.

Rob Wimble slotted home Norgate’s cross three minutes later to give Arundel the lead but Sidley equalised with 20 minutes left when McDonald tapped home after Mullets keeper James Fernandes spilled a shot.

Block said: “It was an even game but we probably just edged it.

“We were camped in their penalty area for the last 10 minutes and must have had 10 corners but they defended well and blocked shots, so fair play to them.”

ARUNDEL on Tuesday: Fernandes; Urquhart, L.Walker, Hall, Hunter; Hardwell, Neighbour, Rayner, Hamilton; Tipper, Wimble. Subs: Kason (Fernandes 45), Norgate (Wimble 76), Williamson (Hardwell 80), Hotson, Dormer.

On Saturday: Fernandes; Urquhart, L.Walker, Hall, Sutcliffe; Hamilton, Norgate, Baggura, Rayner; Wimble, Neighbour. Subs: Hunter (Sutcliffe 65), Hardwell (Norgate 70), Tipper (Baggura 75), Hotson, Dormer, Williamson, Kason.