FOOTBALL: Arundel sunk by Lewes in Sussex Senior Cup

It was a comfortable win for Lewes who dominated much of the game, while Scott Tipper managed to pull a goal back late on for Arundel.

Arundel assistant manager Simon Butler said: "They showed they're a good side, to be fair, their standard and fitness levels showed in the first half and we couldn't compare.

"We were quite pleased to have got the ball down and play it around in the second half and our work- rate was undoubted. It's something to take forward into our next league game as we are continuing to improve on the pitch at the moment."

The visitors soon took charge in the match and took only six minutes to hit the post after Scott Chamberlain's looping far- post header nearly beat Mullets' goalkeeper Ben O'Connor.

Soon after, Lewes launched an attack through the centre of midfield but after a good passage of play, Williams Peauroux's ambitious 20-yard effort went harmlessly wide.

Arundel's first real chance appeared when captain Josh Biggs slipped in Tipper on the left after 17 minutes.

His effort was driven low and hard safely into the arms of Lewes keeper Rikki Banks. Lewes' confidence with the ball at their feet and the pace of their passing caught out the Mullets several times in the first half, and they struggled to match their opposition.

Tricky Rooks winger Joe Keehan showed neat skill on the right wing to beat three defenders but could muster only a weak shot from a tight angle.

With only 30 minutes gone, Lewes were showing their dominance as Mullets found themselves boxed in for long periods, with Scott Tipper being their only outlet who was largely unsupported.

Lewes struck 10 minutes before half- time, despite O'Connor's best efforts.

The Mullets' goalkeeper saved in quick succession a point-blank stinging shot followed by a header, but failed to prevent a powerful strike from Peauroux on the edge of the area.

It was a similar story after the re-start as Lewes relentlessly attacked Arundel's goal with a number of long-range efforts.

Rooks made it 2-0 just two minutes after the break as Arron Hopkinson rifled a shot into the far corner.

Little fell the way of Arundel in the second half as fatigue played a major factor, while Lewes displayed their superior fitness levels.

Yet just after the hour mark, Matt Huckett's central free kick outside the box forced Rooks' goalkeeper into a fine reflex save after a final ricochet came off Mullet's Scott Dormer.

Tom Pickford's close, but always rising, header was followed by two Mullets counter attacks which ccaused a couple of handball appeals in the area, but they were waved away by the referee.

Lewes then failed to put the match beyond Arundel, as Fred Foreman's instinctive shot smashed off the bar.

Finally, Arundel's gritty defensive work and persistence got their just rewards on 90 minutes.

Scott Tipper headed over Rooks' keeper into the net to grab a consolation goal from Matt Huckett's cross, but there was no time for Mullets to force an equaliser.

ARUNDEL: O'Connor; Sneller, Hall, Wimbleton, Pickford; Axell Grove, Hamilton, Biggs, Tipper, Huckett. Subs: Walker, Dormer (Hall 60), Duncan (Axell 78), Harwood (Grove 60).

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