Ben Nolan and Olly Hughes on target as Mildenhall Town overcome Soham Town Rangers to go top of the table

Olly Hughes came up with an 86th minute winner as visiting Mildenhall Town overcame a stubborn Soham Town Rangers side 2-1 to take over at the top of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division table.

Phil Weavers’ visitors had been dominant throughout but were unable to get themselves in front until Ben Nolan fired home a Jed Wigley cross in the 79th minute.

Mid-table Soham had barely caused former player Josh Pope hardly any problems all afternoon but Cameron Watson got them back on terms within four minutes when following up a spilled header at a free kick.

But fast forward another four minutes and Mildenhall regained the lead with Hughes’ instinctive finish in the penalty box which proved to be enough to seal a big three points, putting them two points clear of Newmarket Town with a game in hand still.

It was a fourth straight league win for ‘Hall and saw them bounce back from last weekend’s 3-0 Isuzu FA Vase third round defeat at Romford.

The volunteer groundstaff at Julius Martin Lane had been hard at work all morning to ensure it became just one of a handful of grass pitch games to survive the wet weather and were rewarded with a 250-plus crowd.

As Mildenhall looked to break into Soham’s area inside the opening minute right-back Ted Johnson suffered a head injury after jumping with Olly Hughes, leading to his early exit with Dominic Brown coming on.

From the resultant Mildenhall free kick Hughes found Jarid Robson in the area but his shot was too weak to trouble Finley Iron in the home goal.

It was Mildenhall who continued to look the brightest with Robson’s cross-shot straight at Iron while Ben Nolan headed a looping cross wide at the far post.

Hughes broke into the area in the 11th minute but blazed his shot well over the crossbar while Call was also well off target from his effort out on the left.

Soham were forced into another change in the 21st minute with forward Junior Valera unable to carry on with Jordan Chipps entering the action.

The Greens were string some passages of play together but were finding the final pass was letting them down.

Up the other end the lively Hughes pulled the ball back to the edge of the box for Jon Kaye but he lifted his shot well past the right-hand post.

Just after the half-hour mark a deep cross from Kaye bounced dangerously through the area to the unmarked Nolan but he sliced it wide.

Carden got away down the left in a promising counter from the hosts but Luis Cowie was unable to connect with his cross.

For Mildenhall, Hughes soon found the hands of Finley Iron from a narrow angle.

Soham as close as they had come to a gaol in the 37th minute when Jude Iron received the ball on the left edge of the area and saw his arrowed effort land on the roof of the net.

With five minutes of the half to go they were denied the opener by a good save from Pope, who came out to spread himself in front of Joe Carden who had been put through after Chipps disposessed Alex Steed on half way. Weavers was then on hand to slide the loose ball behind.

In the first minute of stoppage time Mildenhall came a lick of paint from getting their noses in front. Capel’s throughball slid Hughes into the area and from his neat back-heel, Call looked well place but saw his curling shot came back off the foot of the post.

Robson and Call went close with headers as the visitors’ pressure continued.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time there were calls for Mildenhall full-back Jed Wigley to be sent off after he retaliated to Chipps challenge, but after consulting his assistant in another long stoppage, both players were show yellow cards in virtually the last action.

Finley Iron parried a fierce Robson effort away from the edge of the box before the same player ran onto a low Call soon after only to scoop it over the bar from seven yards out.

Mildenhall’s players were screaming for a handball in the 54th minute, after Weavers pumped a deep free kick into the area but the referee was not interested.

Hughes managed to latch onto a Nolan cross as the visitors’ pressure continued but saw it land on the roof of the net before Jude Iron made a good far post clearance from a Callum Anderson effort.

Mildenhall continued to be frustrated as their hosts put their bodies on the line in the box while when they did find Robson alone from a low cross he fired it well over.

Another inviting delivery only needed a touch at the back post but Kaye was just inches away.

Soham’s first chance of the half came with 20 minutes to go when Luis Cowie sent a long-range effort not far over the bar.

The Greens continued to come under heavy fire though with Nolan skipping his way into the box before seeing his effort deflected up over he bar.

In the 75th minute Mildenhall made a double change in a bid to end their frustration with Kieran Twinn and Tommy Robinson adding to their attacking options in place of Kaye and Call.

Another brief moment of respite saw a dangerous Soham ball knocked behind before Pope dropped the subsequent corner from Auguer before regaining control.

Soon after Mildenhall were finally celebrating their long-awaited breakthrough in the 79th minute. Wigley was played in down the left side of the area and from his low cross Nolan arrived to make no mistake.

But out of nowhere Soham were celebrating an equaliser in the 83rd minute when Pope could only get his fingertips on a Jordan Gent header from a Auger free kick amid a crowded area and Watson was on hand to push it over inside the left-hand post.

Parity lasted less then four minutes though as Mildenhall worked the ball into the box again and a few deflections, the last from substitute Twinn, saw the ball break loose for Hughes at the far post who kept his cool to fire home from an angle eight yards out.

Mildenhall rode out a bit of late pressure from the hosts but once Pope was fouled at a last-gasp corner the game was up to spell a first defeat for Alex Ling’s tenure, having started with back-to-back victories.

Soham: F Iron, Johnson (Brown 6’), J Iron, Auger (cpt), Gent, Watson, Nicholls,Jackaman, Valera (Chipps 21’), Carden (Watson 84’), Cowie (Christica 84’).

Unused sub: Chaffey.

Booked: Chpps (45+7’), Auger 62’).

Mildenhall: Pope (cpt), Wigley, Nolan, Weavers, Capel, Kaye (Twinn 75’), Robson, Steed (Connor 64’), Hughes (Swinton 89’), Call (Robinson 75’), Anderson (Coakley 89’).

Booked: Wigley (45+8’)

Attendance: 261

SuffolkNews Man of the Match: Ben Nolan. The Mildenhall full-back was a constant meance going forward and deserved to get his name on the scoresheet.