The delivery of Jamie Thurlbourne proved decisive as Mildenhall Town claimed the bragging rights over local rivals Newmarket Town at Recreation Way on Tuesday evening.

Two corners in the space of two second half minutes from the Mildenhall winger were clinically finished by John Sands and Sean Hefferon as the hosts tightened their grip on fifth position in the Ridgeons Premier Division.

The first half was a scrappy affair with both side finding goalscoring chances hard to come by, although Newmarket centre back Colin Vowden will feel he should have done better with his sixth minute chance.

A corner from Paul Jones caused confusion in the Mildenhall box, and when the ball looped to Vowden with the goal at his mercy, he somehow crashed his header against the outside of the post from four yards.

Mildenhall’s only chance of note in the opening 45 minutes fell to full back Andrew Cusack, whose goalbound volley was deflected wide by Vowden.

The home side started the second half brightly, with only a fine save from Newmarket goalkeeper Lee Huyler from Ryan Foster’s low effort prevented them from taking the lead.

However, the pressure finally told just before the hour mark. Thurlbourne’s teasing corner was met by the unmarked Sands, who powerfully guided his header into the net from 10 yards.

And barely a minute later Mildenhall’s advantage was doubled. This time it was defender Hefferon who met Thurlbourne’s corner, flicking the ball past Huyler after a making a near post run.

The Jockeys never really looked like getting themselves back into the game, and with time running out almost fell further behind.

Substitute David Cooper picked out Thurlbourne on the left with a superb raking pass. The left sided midfielder took one touch before drilling in a cross which Alan Ross steered towards goal, only for Huyler to smartly turn the ball over.