ARUNDEL Football Club fell to their third defeat in four games on Saturday with a 3-1 loss at home to Ringmer, who started the day bottom of County League Division 1.
The result left Mullets assistant manager Simon Butler frustrated, and he said: "We were awful, we only started playing after half-time, but it was far too late by then.
"It wasn't good enough and some players just aren't putting the effort in. T
here's a lack of commitment and the general attitude was disappointing."
Arundel's Rob Grove and Russell Hardwell had efforts saved before Mullets fell behind in the 18th minute, as Joe Tubon scuffed his effort home from close range.
Mullets' Matt Axell fired wide before Ringmer doubled their lead on 30 minutes. Darren Lok's header came back off the bar, and Aaron Hasan headed home the rebound.
A mix-up between Steve Sneller and Dave Hall resulted in Mark Price scoring the third to leave Mullets all but defeated by half-time.
Arundel reduced the deficit on the hour when Scott Tipper turned in Axell's corner. But Mullets then finished the game with 10 men when Rory Biggs went off with a head injury on 70 minutes after they had used all their substitutes.
The game was stopped and an ambulance called as Biggs took a boot in the face, and Butler added: "It looked horrible at the time, and there was a bit of worry about his spine. Thankfully, Rory is okay and came out of hospital with concussion and bruising."
ARUNDEL: O'Connor; Hall, Sneller, Pickford, R.Biggs; Axell, Grove, Wimbleton, Hardwell; Neighbour, Tipper. Subs: Tewsley, Buckett, Hamilton (Hall, Neighbour, Sneller 45), Griffiths.
Rustington drew a fiery game 1-1 at home to 10-man Clymping in Division 2.
Clymping went ahead early on when a long Billy Rayner free kick was spilled over the line by Rustington keeper James Askew.
Blues responded well and Kirkham levelled the scores from Ryan Morten's cross on 38 minutes.
Clymping striker Danny Hand was then red-carded for a second bookable offence, after an altercation with the Rustington physio, who was also sent-off.
Kirkham then had a header saved and Chris Green struck the bar for Blues.
Clymping had striker David Gaskin in goal, with regular stopper Michael Oakley ruled out through illness, and their player-manager Dominic Di Paola said: "David was brilliant and didn't do anything wrong.
"Danny Hand's second booking was just ridiculous. But even with 10 men, I thought we were the better side and I'm really pleased with the whole team."
Blues boss Pete Matthews said: "It was very encouraging, we've got players coming back from injury and I'm confident things will turn for us now.
"Chris Kirkham played very well and the defence has been strengthened with Jim Smith coming in."
RUSTINGTON: Askew; Neal, Smith, Goff; Bennett, Morten, C.Matthews, Butt, Green; C.Kirkham, Gibbs. Subs: Robertshaw (Gibbs 75), Churchill (Green 80), Harris.
Littlehampton recorded their second home league win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Storrington in Division 2, and Golds player manager Gary Young said: "It was a good performance and especially pleasing to keep a clean sheet for the first time in the league.
"The lads are gelling well and, hopefully, results will turn our way. It was an important win because it lifts us out of the bottom three."
Gold were two ahead by half-time through volleyed finishes from Idriz Adedoja and Matt Russell, who was played through by Young, and Barney Boutwood got the third from Nathan Peacock's pass in the 69th minute.
Last Wednesday, Golds had lost 2-1 in the league at home to local-rivals East Preston.
Matt Russell gave Littlehampton an early lead but EP won with goals from Chris Darwin and Tom Paine.
EP then progressed into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Westfield at Hastings United's Pilot Field ground.
EP boss Trevor Waller said: "We're doing well at the moment. That's five wins on the spin and we've got to keep going and see where it gets us. The way we approached it and the commitment was very pleasing."
Paine went close and Neil Reilly missed an open goal, before EP took the lead in the 28th minute when Terry Dodd fired home.
Neat wing play between Dale Campbell, Paine and Nathan Da Costa resulted in the second EP goal through Kevin Budge three minutes after half-time.
Westfield converted a penalty 20 minutes from time, but East Preston survived the late pressure to seal a trip to Eastbourne UA in the third round.
EP v Westfield: Williamson; Saunders, Hammond, Windsor, N.Da Costa; Darwin, Paine, Campbell, Reilly; T.Dodd, Budge. Subs: M.Dodd (Darwin 30), Ferrier (Hammond 48), Kason
v Littlehampton: Williamson; N.Da Costa, Hammond, Saunders, Darwin; Windsor, Paine, Campbell, Ferrier; Budge, Burgess. Subs: Huet (Burgess 46), M.Dodd (Ferrier 58), L.Da Costa, Kason.
LITTLEHAMPTON v Storrington: Stoner; Ward, McKay, O'Hagan, Young; Peacock, Russell, Tabor, Charman; Boutwood, Adedoja. Subs: Crawford (Charman 70), Hudson (Peacock 75), White (Boutwood 80).
v EP: Stoner; Crawford, Hazell, Young, McKay; O'Hagan, Sayers, Hudson, Peacock; Russell, Murray. Subs: Adedoja, Boutwood, Charman, Tabor.
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