Midhurst win at Arundel - Unicorn and Wick are out of cup

The game started at a fast pace as the hosts put the Stags under pressure from the first whistle.

Arundel had the first big chance when a corner led to a shot being deflected wide by one of their own players.

In the 16th minute Liam Dreckmann beat his man and put in a great cross – and Marcus Bedford got in front of his man and headed home.

On 36 minutes Jake Slater opened up the Arundel defence with a great ball which put Bedford through and his first-time shot flew past the Arundel keeper.

Three minutes before the break Stags keeper Josh Bird made a smart save. Stags had the ball in the net in the 55th minute when Lewis Hamilton picked out Bedford, but he was flagged offside.

Arundel pulled a goal back in the 66th minute as a rare mistake by Stags full-back Oli Kershaw allowed Harry Callaghan to net.

Bird made a couple of good saves then for the Stags Bedford forced a save from the Arundel keeper.

Arundel pushed men forward and were caught on the break as Hamilton was bundled over in the box for a penalty that Bedford converted.

Stags boss Andy Ewen said: “It was great to get back to competitive football. We have a good group and the lads know we’ll be rotating, giving everyone opportunities to play after difficult times.”

Unicorn & Wick 3 Goring 2

Unicorn and Wick have been eliminated from the West Sussex and District Sunday League Division One Cup – but manager Dennis Barclay insisted: “We went out on our shields.”

The Bognor-based side trailed 2-0 to Goring at Wick’s Crabtree Park but hit back to take the points in the round robin stage. But a 7-3 defeat in the opening match against Broadhurst, thanks to four goals from former Rocks striker Terry Dodd, means they cannot progress from the group.

Defensive lapses saw the Unicorn trail against Goring but Josh Irish reduced the arrears with a smartly taken finish to give hope to the Uni.

Alex Barclay, enjoying a good weekend after scoring for Unicorn’s Saturday side in a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Southbourne, equalised and Brad Nixon slotted in the winner.

Barclay said: “It was a great win for us and it’s a shame that’s it for the lads until the new season starts.

“We went out of the cup on our shields though and the boys can be proud of their efforts.

“Broadhurst are a very good side and Terry Dodd’s scored two unbelievable volleys, and we showed terrific character in fighting back from two goals down to beat Goring.”