Tipper bags a brace in Mullets’ victory

Scott Tipper scored twice for Arundel against St Francis Rangers on Tuesday to move on to 32 goals for the season

Scott Tipper bagged a brace and Lewis Jenkins also netted as Mullets secured all three points against St Francis Rangers.

The victory ensured Arundel moved up into the top half of the table and they now sit ninth, with five games left in County League Division 1.

It was the visitors who made the better start and they should have been ahead inside two minutes.

Luke Leppard sent Tom Saunders racing through on goal but, with just James Fernandes to beat, he shot wide of the goal.

Arundel responded well and went ahead just two minutes later. Alex Biggs’ exquisite crossfield ball found Jenkins and he beat two players before seeing his drive deflect off Dan Lawrence and find the net.

The home side were then awarded a penalty on 22 minutes when Luke Akehurst brought down Barney Boutwood in the area.

Boutwood’s strike partner, Tipper, slammed the resulting spot-kick into the top corner to double his side’s advantage.

It was nearly 3-0 six minutes before the break as Bradley Jordan’s corner was met by Ryan Peake but his header was tipped over the bar by Rob Gordon.

St Francis were quick out of the blocks in the second period and were unfortunate not to pull a goal back.

First, Leppard could only blaze over on his weaker left side after being played in, then Jamie Weston shot wide after Leppard squared the ball to him.

The visitors’ hopes of a comeback got much harder when they were reduced to ten men after Ben Palmer received a second booking.

Despite being a player light, St Francis should have pulled a goal back ten minutes from time. Saunders’ knock-down found substitute Josh Perry but he somehow skewed the ball over from four yards out.

Arundel then completed a comprehensive victory with five minutes to go when Tipper coolly slotted past Gordon.

Arundel travel to Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday and then host Chichester on Monday (11am).

ARUNDEL: Fernandes; Peake, Bibb, O’Hagan, Hunter; Jordan, A.Biggs, Clark, Jenkins; Tipper, Boutwood. Subs: R.Biggs (Jordan), Richards (Jenkins), Marsden, Lee, Grove.