Phil Harding could not have dreamed of a better debut for County League Division One strugglers Peacehaven.

The young defender not only scored the winner to keep his side's survival hopes alive, but it was against the club he left just two months ago.

The Brighton University student was making his first start for Peacehaven since joining them from Arundel in December after finding it hard to break into the first team at Mill Road.

He marked it in style, firing home from a tight angle at the second attempt on 68 minutes after visiting keeper Andy McCarthy had blocked his first effort.

Harding said: "It was lovely to get one over on them. I left Arundel because I was playing in the reserves and it was a bit too far to travel.

"I was really pleased with my goal because I don't score too many, it was my first of the season. I have played four or five reserve games but haven't been able to play that much because of University commitments so it was really good to come in and score on my debut."

Harding's timing could not have been better for Peacehaven. Historically, they are the County League's most successful side with six championships to their name, but these days are in danger of being relegated to Division Two.

They are currently third from bottom and level on points with Selsey who have nine games in hand.

Manager Mick Maskell is optimistic his side will beat the drop. He said: "I told the players before the game that we have to win six out of eight to stay up, so this is the first one.

"We've got to win five out of seven now and I think we are good enough to do it. It's not finished until it's finished and when they turn round and say we have no chance of staying up then I will say we have no chance."

Maskell thinks one of the reasons for his side's poor season is the number of students in his squad. Peacehaven had eight players who also turn out regularly for Brighton University.

"A lot of the players play a lot of games for the University," he added. "They train Tuesdays, play for the University on Wednesday, train Thursdays and then play on Saturdays.

"We played Burgess Hill two weeks ago in midweek and I struggled to put a side out because the University had a league game they had to win.

"That has been a problem for most of the season. We can't train together and we seem to have a different team out each week."

The home side dominated the first half but made just one of their numerous chances count when Tom Freeman pounced on Jon Donaghue's rebounded shot after just 11 minutes.

Maskell thinks his side would be safe from relegation by now if they had a goalscorer. "We cannot score goals and every week seems to be the same," he added.

"We had so many chances in the first half that if it had been a boxing match they would have stopped it for a technical knockout.

"We play some good football and if we had a 30 goal a season man like some of the other clubs have then we wouldn't be in this position."

The visitors came alive after the break and it took just two minutes for Miles Scerri to volley them back on level terms.

Arundel had enough second half chances to win the game but manager Mike Rowland admitted that would have been harsh on Peacehaven.

He said: "Fair play to them, they battled hard, took their chances when they came and deserved their result.

"We didn't play well, there was no sparkle there and we didn't play as a team. We are a footballing side but didn't play the way we can."

Arundel have slipped to 15th after picking up just one win in their last six league games. Rowland thinks attitudes need to change if his side are going to do themselves justice this season.

He said: "We are capable of top six if we go out and play our football and show the right attitude and commitment.

"There was not enough heart out there. We are in a situation where players are in the run-down to the season and they only have to play to finish in the highest position. That is when you want the players to show character to do that, not just to turn up and play a game of football."