The end of September brought me to the beautiful town of Arundel, to see the Southern Combination Division One fixture between Arundel FC and Worthing United. The weather was warm and the sun bright with late Autumnal light.

The Mill Road ground holds 2200 at full capacity, with seating for 100 and covered standing for a further 100. The ground has modern floodlighting, a fine grass surface and refreshment stand as well as a welcoming clubhouse. Parking is adjacent to the club in the public car park but rates were less than £3 for 3 hours.

It was good to see the sponsorship boards up at the clubhouse of local Sussex GoTo podcast and website “The SNLF”, led by local non-league football guru Trevor Knell.

The Mulletts, as Arundel FC are known, were managed at the beginning of this season by Craig Stuart, although the job is currently vacant as he resigned earlier this month. Goals have flowed with seventeen coming from the opening seven league games, with Sam Pearson (6 goals), Harry Russell and Stephen Herbert (both 3 goals) leading the way. Unfortunately the Arundel FC defence has also leaked at a similar rate, with nineteen goals conceded, which explains why they lie eleventh in the league with three wins and three defeats, as well as a draw, from their seven matches.

Worthing United have made a strong start to the season, winning five of eight games, and sitting currently in third place. Ethan Robert (6 goals), Dean Sherwood, Liam Appleton and Daniel Kingston (all 3 goals) have scored the goals that have lifted expectations for the Mavericks’ co-managers, Glenn Souter and Mark Curran, to finish higher than last season’s seventh place.

The game opened with a poignant minute’s silence to honour the passing of Billy Vigar who died this week after striking his head on a concrete wall at the side of a pitch, whilst playing for local West Sussex side, Chichester City.

The match started with a close fought opening half hour which led to no goals. Arundel FC had a goal disallowed on 30 minutes for a foul and then Harry Russell missed a chance when through one on one with the Worthing keeper, Sam Marsden, on 40 minutes.

Worthing United had their own chance on 45 minutes when Danny Kingston went through one on one with the Arundel keeper Maicek Kason but couldn’t finish, so that at the half-time break the sides went in with the scores locked at nil-nil.

On 55 minutes Arundel were ahead, when Ollie Clayden headed low into the Worthing United net, to put the home side 1-0 ahead, in the bright Autumn sunshine.

Sam Pearson put the home side deservedly two nil ahead on 63 minutes, with a fine low headed finish, which I narrowly missed capturing, as Arundel began to dominate.

The last twenty minutes saw both sides creating chances. Worthing United looked sharper after they brought on their substitutes, however a goal eluded them. As the final whistle blew the 67 fans attending were able to reflect on a comfortable victory for Arundel FC after an attacking performance played out on a beautiful day.