Mullets grind out home victory

Mullets’ game with Dorking was their first for more than three weeks but their home game with Pagham on Tuesday was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

Arundel boss Brett Torode said: “It was frustrating to have Tuesday’s game called off after a good performance on Saturday.

“We would have had pretty much a full squad available for the game, with Dave Walker back from suspension and James Wotherspoon available again. Only Josh Biggs, who is four weeks away after his shoulder operation, would have been missing.

“The club had done ever so well to get the game on Saturday to take place. The result paid them back a little as no-one really expected us to play and, thankfully, the pitch played okay.

“It was a good win for us and I enjoyed it.”

In what was only Mullets’ second match since the turn of the year, owing to the recent poor weather, they showed immense character to earn a deserved victory.

After a dour, scoreless first half, the visitors took the lead against the run of play just one minute into the second period, but Arundel responded magnificently to grind out the win.

Ryan Peake bagged a rare goal as he headed home following a flick on from Mike Huckett to level proceedings, which sparked a purple patch for the hosts as they began to find their rhythm.

They made their dominance count as Grant Thetford edged the Mullets ahead with a well-timed header from a Nathan Da Costa cross, and when Alex Biggs fired home with just four minutes remaining, the game was effectively over.

However, Dorking did make for a nervous ending for Arundel as Martin Merrett gave his side hope, but it turned out to be a mere consolation as Torode’s men held on for all three points.

Arundel are away to Sidley on Saturday.

ARUNDEL: Fernandes; Da Costa, Hall, Dudas, Hunter; R.Biggs, Peake, Lewis, Huckett, Warr; Thetford. Subs: Jenkins (Warr 60), A.Biggs (Thetford 80), Giammattei (Lewis 88), Grove, Gibbs.