YM edge past Arundel ahead of tonight’s big cup clash with Bognor

All five goals came during a frantic first 45 minutes, as YM’s top goalscorer Nick Sullivan equalised twice, before Dan Evans’ strike just before the break proved the eventual winner.

YM manager Peter Buckland said: “It just didn’t happen for us from the first minute to the last, and it was hard work in the end.

“I’d like to think that I could blame it on the players’ efforts against East Preston on Tuesday night and on them having one eye on a cup semi-final on Monday, but I think I’d be cheating myself if I said that.

YM were missing a number of regular players, and after an extremely sluggish start their re-shuffled back line conceded after five minutes, when a poorly defended corner was flicked on to Scott Tipper, who nodded home from close range at the far post.

The hosts were giving the ball away far too easily and the Mulletts could easily have doubled their advantage when Rory Bigg shot wide when well placed on the edge of the area.

YM still offered a threat however and from a Brad Curtis pass Dan Sullivan hit a vicious strike which was well parried by Arundel goalkeeper Matt Neocleous.

The visiting stopper was then responsibly for gifting YM an equaliser only four minutes later when he scuffed a clearance straight into the path of Dave Brown, who crossed for Sullivan to head home.

Buckland’s side weren’t level for long however, as just two minutes later another disappointingly defended Mullets corner was headed in by an unchallenged Luke Jearum.

After going behind for the second time YM stepped things up a gear, as after Brown fired wide of the far post and Curtis saw a low, deflected drive well parried by Neocleous, two goals in four minutes then turned the game around.

Sullivan doubled his tally for the afternoon when he latched onto a Curtis through ball and twice cut back onto his left foot before coolly slotting the ball past the ‘keeper, before Dan Evans’ half volley with his unfavoured right foot from the edge of the area gave the home side the lead for the first time in the fixture.

The second half provided a complete contrast to the first in terms of goals, with neither side able to add to the score line.

A fantastic cross field Liam Hunter pass found Brown, who cut in from the YM left and beat two men before tamely firing at Neocleous.

The visitors’ only chance of the second period followed ten minutes later, when Tipper climbed highest to head another Clark set piece wide of the far post.

The Mullets failed to put pressure on an out of sorts YM and in the end it could have been more comfortable for the hosts, who squandered several late chances.

Tonight (Monday) YM take on Ryman Premier side Bognor in the semi-final of the Sussex Senior Cup down at Lancing.

At stake is a place in the final to be held at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, and having already disposed of fellow Ryman side Lewes and then Conference South outfit Whitehawk in the previous round, boss Buckland says they go into the game with no fear.

He said: “Everyone at the club is viewing it as the biggest game we’ve had for many years and we’re all buzzing.

“From what I understand the club has never been this far in the competition before and knowing the winners will get the chance to play at the Amex, it’s a once in a lifetime chance for my players.

“They’ve really stuck together and that’s what’s got us this far and seen them beat Lewes and Whitehawk.

“We know we’re going in as underdogs but we’ve been underdogs twice before and won, we won’t be running scared.”

YM (4-2-3-1): Lockwood, Wood, O’Carroll (Gedling 71), Burgess, Evans, Dugdale, Hunter, D. Sullivan (J. Brown 86), B. Curtis (Gannon 83), D. Brown, N. Sullivan.