Report - Adam Burroughs helps dig out a fine 2-0 win for Mildenhall Town at Hadleigh United

Action from a crowded Mildenhall Town penalty area on Saturday as Hadleigh United's Paul Donnelly threatens (Image: Archant)

Two quickfire second-half goals saw Mildenhall Town overcome Hadleigh United in a hard-fought all-Suffolk clash on Saturday.

Adam Burroughs scored the first and set up James McCabe for the second in an excellent result for Dean Greygoose’s side, who have now won three league games on the bounce.

The west Suffolk outfit are up to ninth in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and sit just three points short of the top six.

In truth, there wasn’t a lot between these two sides, but Mildenhall ultimately struck twice to take the points.

The away side started the brighter as Matthew Green saw his clever effort well held by Ben Nower just moments in.

Left-winger James Paterson started off in blistering fashion, producing some wicked crosses, and from one of these Hall should have opened the scoring.

After Burroughs saw his 15th-minute predatory strike blocked by the legs of Nower, the rebound fell invitingly for McCabe, but the midfielder scuffed his effort into the ground, wide of the target.

Hadleigh then upped their game, and after Duane Wright flashed an effort wide and Kris Rose saw a goalbound effort blocked, the best opportunity came to skipper Paul Donnelly.

A rare mistake from Mildenhall goalkeeper Josh Pope, brother of Charlton Athletic and former Bury Town stopper Nick, allowed Donnelly the chance after Pope had dropped the ball into his path, but Michael Harvey brilliantly cleared off the goal-line.

Pope would go on to make amends for his mistake, but certainly had his centre-half to thank in a game where the first goal was crucial.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Pope effectively blocked Aaron Churchyard’s effort with his legs, before producing a flying save from Liam Scopes seconds after the restart.

Watched on by boss Greygoose, a highly-rated goalkeeper who made more than 200 league appearances for Crewe Alexandra, Pope was at his best in the 50th minute to deny Ryan Stafford, with Scott Chaplin turning the rebound onto the crossbar.

McCabe then had another opportunity to open the scoring, but didn’t get the desired contact on Paterson’s cross. And in the 67th minute, the deadlock was finally broken as Burroughs bundled home from on the goal-line after Green’s header had struck the crossbar.

Four minutes later, Hall doubled their lead as, following an excellent through ball from Alex Steed, McCabe crossed for the unmarked Burroughs, who had the sense of awareness to return the favour, with McCabe adding the killer blow from inside the six-yard box.

Try as they might, Hadleigh couldn’t find a way back into the match, and their frustrations grew further when Scopes and George Clarke got in each other’s way in front of goal as Hall held on comfortably in a game that they took their chances in.

Hadleigh: Nower, Jennings, Donnelly, Rose (Barwick 58), Stafford, Sloots, Scopes, Churchyard, Chaplin (Lorimer 66), Clarke, Wright (Inglis 83). Unused subs: Sharp, Planck.

Mildenhall: Pope, Cooper (Smith 90), Parkinson, Harvey, Werthmann, Nurse, Steed, McCabe, Paterson, Green (Enaro 81), Burroughs (Logan 73). Unused subs: None.

Att: 71. Ref: Mr Craig Pullen