Mildenhall Town v Walthamstow preview

After the disappointment of a late postponement against Witham Town last weekend, Walthamstow make the trip to Suffolk to take on Mildenhall Town in the Isthmian Division One North.

This will be our first ever visit to Mildenhall Town. Last season’s Eastern Counties League winners are playing at step four for only the second time in their history. The last time was between 2017 and 2019, when they finished third-bottom and bottom in successive seasons.

Mildenhall had been on a run of decent form, until losing 1-0 to Newmarket Town in the week. They’d picked up seven points from their three prior games, including an impressive 1-1 draw with title challengers Felixstowe & Walton United.

Stow come into the game on the back of three wins, having scored ten goals. But they will need to keep up the pace to have any hope of reaching the play-offs.

Walthamstow v Mildenhall Town – previous meetings

Aside from the game at Wadham Lodge earlier this season which Walthamstow lost 2-0, the only other time the two sides have met was during the 2001-2 FA Vase.

It was a battling performance from Walthamstow (then Leyton Pennant), who were already depleted by injury and suspension, and found themselves a goal down in the first minute when David Bastian lost the ball to Aidan Salmons whose quick pass to Rob Allis left the striker with an easy chance to slot home under Russell Ling.

Pennant then tried to force the game but many of their passes were wayward, and Mildenhall changed to the long pump up field.

Pennant pressed forward and Billy Cove and Paul Tresadern began to get half chances. Things got even worse for Pennant when Tresadern went off injured after 43 minutes followed moments later by Carl Brown.

On 52 minutes home-keeper Russell Ling was fouled and taken to hospital with a gapping
head wound. Midfielder Neil Tilly – who wore contact lenses when playing – went in goal.

But somehow, this sparked the Pennant into greater efforts which carried into the second half
which they totally dominated. Yet it took until the 87th minute to level, when Scott DeGaris sent the game to extra time with a brilliant volley.

Pennant couldn’t hold on for penalties any longer, and with ten extra time minutes played Vinnie
Long who capitalised on a through pass with three Mildenhall players seemingly in offside positions.

Walthamstow and Mildenhall’s common people

As far as we are aware, there are no players who have played for both clubs.