A brace from John Sands ensured Mildenhall Town eased past their hosts Debenham LC.

The result sees Simon Charlton’s men gain revenge for Debenham’s 4-2 victory at Recreation Way in November, but more importantly lifts them up to fifth in the Ridgeons Premier Division table.

In truth the match was over as a contest within ten minutes of the start.

With six minutes gone the home defence failed to react to a quickly taken free-kick from Jamie Thurlbourne. Ryan Foster benefited, collecting the ball from Thurlbourne’s kick to cross for Sands who turned the ball in from close range.

And just four minutes later Sands had his, and Mildenhall’s second of the afternoon. Thurlbourne was again involved; sending in a cross which the Debenham rearguard failed to clear and the striker was on hand to finish emphatically via the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

Thurlbourne was proving to be a thorn in the side of the hosts, and it was his cross field pass that released Aaron Turner. The striker neatly rounded goalkeeper Louis Johnson, but Ed Cussons got back on the goal-line to deny the former Soham Town Rangers man.

In what proved to be a largely one sided opening half, the closest Debenham came to pulling one back was through Mildenhall skipper Dave Werthmann, who sliced Warren Taylor Holt’s just past his own post.

Debenham came out for the second in more positive fashion, and Mildenhall goalkeeper Josh Pope pulled of a decent save to deny a header from Ian Gedney and keep his clean sheat intact.

Just as in the first half, Turner was again denied a goal, this time by the referee’s assistant who flagged for offside after the forward bundled in Sands’ header.

As the game drew to a close Pope again did well to deny Ben Deacon, while up the other end Turner sent an effort just wide of the upright.