Selsey’s struggles continue into 2015

The Sussex League divvision-one clash - which ended 4-1 to Arundel - was just one of three matches to be played in the Sussex League after heavy rain on Saturday morning and the Mullets were glad it survived.

The pitch played well, although it was sticky in places, and Arundel had a couple of early penalty appeals waved away when Rob Grove and then Tipper went down in the penalty area.

Bottom-of-the-table Selsey, who had picked up just two points from their 20 games heading into the match, went ahead on 29 minutes when David Rough’s shot took a deflection and flew into the net.

It took Arundel just a minute to equalise as Tipper headed home Liam Da Costa’s corner at the back post.

Mullets went ahead on 37 minutes when Da Costa broke down the right and crossed for Tipper to again head home at the back post.

Selsey missed a decent chance at the start of the second half when the ball was fired over from a tight angle before Arundel increased their lead on 49 minutes.

A corner was only half cleared and defender Niall O’Hagan fired home a brilliant 25-yarder into the top corner – his first goal for the club.

Tipper completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot for his 24th goal of the season on 65 minutes after a foul on Lloyd Walker, and Mullets could have extended their lead in the closing stages.

Barney Boutwood had a couple of chances, Ryan Peake had a header saved and Tipper also went close twice more.

Things don’t promise to get any easier in the near future for Selsey, who are marooned at the bottom of division one.

They now face a daunting schedule of three away games in eight days – they head to Lancing this Saturday, Littlehampton next Tuesday and Hassocks on Saturday week.

Their next scheduled home game is against Newhaven on Saturday, January 24.