LITTLE LINGFIELD CLIMB TO THIRD PLACE

Dixie Dean’s depleted side, including a patched up three-strong substitutes’ bench, overcame all expectations to produce a disciplined display despite having to play out the game a man short as impressive debutant striker Joel Amos, drafted in from the reserves, limped off injured after 82 minutes.

In spite of missing ex-professional strikers Nicky Forster and Jamie Lawrence, along with fellow key players Dean Hamlin, Rob O’Hara, Harry Sintim and Dan Frith, The Lingers produced the kind of performance which boss Dean had hoped for in sending shockwaves through Division One.

The village visitors made a positive start against the backdrop of Arundel Castle and Daryl Coleman put them ahead after 32 minutes, shooting home from 25 yards inside the far post past a helpless James Fernandes, following Hidekazu Sato’s astute assist.

After 39 minutes the hosts lost keeper Fernandes following a back injury, being replaced in goal by defender Adam Bibb while substitute Ryan Peake came on.

But outplayed Arundel, who have fallen from grace recently and were under a change of management, equalised on 41 minutes as Scott Tipper helped home Rory Biggs’ far post cross, although visiting goalkeeper Daniel Burnett was hardly troubled otherwise.

The Lingers led again two minutes later as man of the match centre back Jay Kalama netted after Joel O’Hara had helped down captain Gareth Graham’s free-kick. The same players combined again a further two minutes later for 3-1 as Graham’s left-wing corner was headed on by O’Hara for Kalama to shoot home again from close range.

An emphatic interval lead was built on after 51 minutes when Sato shot home, beating stand-in keeper Bibb from close range after Amos had set him up.

Jones Awuah completed the scoring a minute later, firing home after influential midfielder Graham’s left-wing corner had broken to him, before being substituted immediately by Danny Oakins.

In keeping with another amazing match, referee Anthony O’Brien decided to clamp down on comments from The Lingers’ dug-out by cautioning Oakins for dissent after 69 minutes and immediately dismissing assistant manager Darren Maziere who was ordered behind the perimeter pitch railings.

To cap an eventful fixture, Coleman’s inswinging corner hit the crossbar in added time before The Lingers could celebrate success in style despite left back Marco Mwanza’s stoppage-time caution for a foul.

By David Groves