Ten-man Hailsham make Mullets work hard for win

Harry Russell got the only goal to ensure Mullets moved up a place to 16th in the standings to ease their relegation fears with a 1-0 win.

It was far from plain sailing for Arundel, who struggled for large periods against a team playing with ten players for more than 85 minutes.

Hailsham goalkeeper Ryan Reid was shown a straight red card less than five minutes in for handball outside the area, forcing midfielder Sammy Townsend to go in goal as they had no substitutes.

The victory moves Mullets five points clear of third-bottom AFC Uckfield Town in the final relegation spot.

Arundel boss Richard Towers felt the three points were all he could take out of the game and wants to see an improvement in the critical Easter fixtures against Worthing United and Wick.

He said: “We were as poor in this one as we were good in our win over Eastbourne United on Saturday.

“I made the mistake of saying to the lads that a 1-0 win would do, which I’m pleased with, but I wanted a performance as well.

“We’ve moved further away from danger but if we continue to play like this we’ll be back in trouble. The win is all we can take from this.”

Conner Townsend saw a well-struck effort saved down low by James Fernandes inside two minutes, before a moment of controversy. Harry Russell’s attempted lob was handled by the onrushing Reid outside the area, leaving referee David Joseph with no choice but to send him off.

After much deliberation - and with no substitutes - midfielder Sammy Townsend was forced to go in goal.

Mullets made the most of the extra man going ahead after 21 minutes.

Asa Nicholson and Lewis Jenkins linked up with the latter playing in Russell, whose right-foot drive nestled in the bottom corner off a post.

Arundel failed to kick on following the goal with Hailsham looking dangerous on the counter. Fernandes was nearly caught in possession ten minutes before half-time, then Conner Townsend’s cross just evaded Matt Barbosa with Hailsham ending the first 45 minutes stronger.

It was more of the same early in the second as Conner Townsend went close on two occasions. Fernandes had to get down low to stop a fierce drive five minutes after the restart, then Townsend’s first-time volley – after meeting Marcus Goldsmith’s cross – went just wide.

Hailsham began to tire in the closing stages and substitute Luke Richards almost had an instant impact.

Nicholson’s header played the forward in less than a minute after his introduction, although he could only blaze well over six minutes from time.

Richards then fired a rebound just wide a minute later, while Sammy Townsend spilled over and Russell poked just over as it ended 1-0.

ARUNDEL: Fernandes; Lofting, Tipper, Walker, Bunker, Jenkins; N.DaCosta, Mottershead, Jarvis; Russell, Nicholson. Subs: A.Biggs (A.Biggs, 50), Hunter (Bunker, 65), Holmes, Richards (Jarvis, 79), McDonald.

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