Newmarket Town end Mildenhall Town’s winning start to new Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division season thanks to Josh Lee’s goal

As the old saying goes: ‘All good things must come to an end’. That was the case for Mildenhall Town this evening as they saw their perfect start to the new Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division campaign end with a 1-0 defeat at neighbours Newmarket Town.

Mildenhall made the short journey down the A11 after racking up 10 straight victories this term – form that had left them top of the table and two points clear of tonight’s hosts, who have played a couple of game more.

But the Jockeys – now sitting at the summit by a point – had a record of their own to protect, having gone into the game with seven straight home league wins to their name this term. And they did just that thanks to Josh Lee, who by chance joined them from Mildenhall in the summer.

Clear cut chances were at a premium for much of what was a scrappy first half.

Alfie Connor – on as an early substitute in place of the injured Simon Swinton – skewed Mildenhall’s best opening wide of the target, while at the other end Newmarket’s Jordan Foster curled a shot a yard wide from the edge of the box.

The game burst into life in the 41st minute when goalkeeper Josh Pope was Mildenhall’s hero. He made a brave double save to keep out Lee, only for Newmarket to keep the ball alive and win a penalty after Ryan Cole was upended. The youngster stepped up to take the kick himself, but Pope guessed correctly to keep it out and ensure the sides headed into the break level.

Jarid Robson looped a header on to the top of the Newmarket crossbar at the start of the second half, but after that the Jockeys gained a foothold.

They broke the deadlock in the 51st minute via Lee, who towered above the Mildenhall defence to plant Andy Ballaster’s right-wing cross beyond Pope. It was the forward’s 11th goal of what is turning out to be a prolific campaign leading the Newmarket attack.

A goal behind, Mildenhall looked to be wobbling and Newmarket sensed blood. Cole crashed a shot from distance against the crossbar, Tom Williams headed over from close range and Ben Robinson fired off target from Foster’s cut back as the home side hunted a second.

Sandwiched in between those moments Callum Anderson struck the angle of post and crossbar for Mildenhall, but the visitors were struggling to build any genuine momentum. Much of their play was funnelled through a congested midfield, which resulted in the ball being turned over far too frequently.

If anything it was Newmarket that looked the more likely to score the game’s second goal with Lee firing off target on a couple of occasions and Isaac Maynard dragging a left-footed shot wide after he had ghosted into the box.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time Robson threatened to steal a late point with a lobbed effort, but James Young in the Newmarket goal grasped the ball – and in doing so ensured that the home side registered their first victory at the Tristel Stadium over Mildenhall since 2015.

Newmarket: Young, Ballaster, Eady, Williams, Cole, Walter, Conway, Maynard, Robinson, Foster (Frank 88), Lee (Seymour 90’)

Mildenhall: Pope, Nolan, Weavers, Capel, Wigley, Steed (Robinson 88’), Anderson, Swinton (Connor 26’), Robson, Call, Hughes (Twinn 75’)

Suffolk News Man of the Match – Josh Lee (Newmarket): Returned to haunt his former club with a header of real quality. Goal aside, he worked all night and could have had a couple more.