CHICHESTER LOSE TOP SPOT AFTER BOXING DAY BLUES

Chichester City surrendered top spot in the Sussex County League after suffering from a Christmas hangover at lowly Arundel on Boxing Day.

Adie Girdler had several key players missing for the final game of the year but he was able to field recent Wick signing Barry McCoy, who featured strongly for Chi last season.

In an action packed first half, Temple almost put the Lilywhites ahead as early as the 2^nd minute but Ben O’Connor, one of four ex-city players in the Arundel line-up, just managed to clear the ball off the line. The Arundel keeper was called into action again on 15 minutes, this time making a fine save from a McCoy 30-yard drive.

A minute later Arundel were gifted a corner following a defensive error by Scott, and Hardwell’s set piece found Axell who stroked the ball home via McCoy’s outstretched leg to give the Mullets a 1-0 lead.

Arundel doubled their lead four minutes later when Benjamin failed to clear a Hardwell cross and the ball ran though to Martin who squeezed his shot past Scott at the far post.

A Joe Briggs effort on the half-hour mark was ruled out for offside but the same player brought Chichester back into the game on 35 minutes when slotting home a Brockway cross.

On the stroke of half-time, Brockway was fouled by Sneller in the Arundel box and the Chichester winger made no mistake from the penalty spot to bring the game level.

In stark contrast to the exciting first period, the second half was as dreary as the worsening weather and neither side managed to find the breakthrough. Ex-city player Phil Archbold came close on 70 minutes but his goal bound shot was tipped around the post by Scott, with the referee somehow awarding a goal-kick much to the annoyance of the home crowd.

Arundel had a guilt edged chance to take all three points in the final minute but substitute Harewood, who looked yards offside, missed from close range. The result did neither team any good and Whitehawk’s 1-0 win at home to Peacehaven mean that they regain pole position in division one.

Report written by Martin Smith