The past fortnight has seen a real mixed bag of results for The Mullets.
Back-to-back league defeats to Banstead and Forest Row, a RUR 2nd round cup exit at Crowborough, and a highly impressive FA Vase victory on the road against step 5 Balham has not given both Mullets fans and manager Craig Stuart much time to catch breath and process a rollercoaster of a fortnight.
The highlight of the past couple of weeks has been the highly impressive away win against Step 5 Balham FC – with The Mullets quickly moving through the gears to run out comfortable 3-0 victors, and securing a First-Round tie with Guildford City.
A packed coach of Mullets fans were rewarded with one of the finest performances by an Arundel side over the past decade, and witnessed the club progressing to the First Round Proper of the prestigious FA Vase competition for the first time in ten years.
First Team Manager Craig Stuart took time to speak with the club about the emotional rollercoaster of the last fortnight.
“Without a doubt the Balham game was our best performance of the season. It makes a huge difference having players like Harrison Mott, Tijan Sparks and Harry Russell all available at the same time, and everything just came together on the day.”
“Every single player put a shift in – so much so we ended up having two men of the match awards in Toby Funnell and Tijan, which is a first.”
“I was so pleased for the players. Everyone worked their socks off. The attitudes were spot on, and it just shows what we are capable of as a team.”
“It was brilliant taking a full coach of supporters and staff to the game. It gave everyone an opportunity to spend some time together – Let’s just say the journey home was lively!
“We really are building something special at this football club.”
Midweek saw The Mullets fall to a heavy 6-0 defeat on home soil against league high flyers Forest Row in a game which was fraught with controversy, bad luck and even a leaky gas pipe.
“Nothing went right for us on Tuesday. It was just one of those nights.”
“We had three questionable refereeing decisions go against us early on which led to three goals.”
“Four of the goals they scored would not be out of place in a Premier League game. And to top it off we also had a gas leak at the club. You could not write it really.”
“The Forest Row manager sent me a message after the game saying he could not believe they had won by such a margin, and that we were one of the best sides they had played all season. It is a funny old game.”
“I just want to move on from Tuesday as quickly as possible, draw a line under it and look to get back to winning ways this weekend.”
This weekend sees The Mullets play host to newly promoted Storrington, who have so far performed impressively and find themselves currently sat in sixth place in the league table.
The two sides met earlier in the season in an entertaining Peter Bentley Challenge Cup encounter, which saw Arundel come out 6-3 winners on the night.
“I was really impressed with Storrington when we played them last time we played them.”
“Dave Ray (their manager) is a friend of mine and he will have them well organised.”
“It will be a tough game – but with only three points separating third and ninth position in the league table, it shows how tight the league is this season – it is all to play for.”
Come and see if The Mullets can get back to winning ways this weekend where we entertain Storrington FC. 3PM KO. Mill Road, Arundel. Adults £7, Concessions £5, Under 16’s Free Entry.
