A trio of second half goals saw Mildenhall Town eventually claim all three points against struggling Woodbridge Town at Recreation Way.

The visiting Woodpeckers, who currently sit second bottom of the Ridgeons Premier League with just seven points to their name, frustrated Mildenhall for large parts of the first half and even had chances themselves to break the deadlock.

John Sands, Mildenhall’s leading goalscorer so far this campaign, thought he had opened the scoring with just five minutes on the clock but his close range effort from Aaron Turner’s pass was ruled out for offside.

The two best chances of half however didn’t fall to the hosts, but to Woodbridge striker Josh Mayhew. First, he turned Mildenhall centre back Michael Harvey one way then the other before firing just wide of goal. Then he found goalkeeper Josh Pope in stubborn form when he was presented with a chance from eight yards.

The game changed with an enforced half-time tactical switch from Mildenhall manager Simon Charlton.

The unwell Sands could take no further part so Carl Murkin was moved from his midfield berth and slotted in alongside Turner up front.

And with the hour mark approaching, the alteration paid off. Midfielder Luke Thurlbourne robbed possession from Aaron Churchyard in midfield and waited for the perfect opportunity to release Murkin. The makeshift centre forward committed keeper Adam Wilson before slipping the ball beyond the shot stoppers reach and into the bottom corner.  

The points were all but sealed with 17 minutes remaining following a move of real quality. Jamie Thurlbourne switched play from left to right with a driven pass which found David Cooper. The right winger instantly crossed for Turner who reacted quickest to some hesitant Woodbridge defending and he calmly curled a left footed effort past Wilson.

The away side posed little threat during the second half, but on one of the rare ventures forward Mildenhall keeper Pope denied Glenn Snell with a brave double save.

With nine minutes left Wilson tipped over a spectacular volleyed effort from Luke Thurlbourne, but from the resultant corner Mildenhall skipper Dave Werthmann was on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net following a goalmouth scramble.