Walthamstow v Mildenhall Town preview

Walthamstow play Mildenhall Town on Saturday at Wadham Lodge in the Isthmian League Division One North.

Stow were away on Tuesday at Bowers & Pitsea, where the hosts came out with the three points in a 1-0 win. An own goal just before half time was enough for Bowers, though they did go down to 10 men at the end when former Stow forward Ross Wall received his second yellow card.

Mildenhall were at home in midweek as they took on Gorleston, with the Greens scoring three goals and collecting three points in a 3-1 win. The visitors scored 2 in the space of three minutes thanks to Connor Ingram and Spencer Keller. Mildenhall got one back not long after when Ben Nolan got his name on the scoresheet in the 20th minute. The game was wrapped up in the 61st minute with Joe Marsden getting the third.

Last season’s meetings were the first two games between the two sides since 2001, with both Stow and Mildenhall winning 2-0 away from home. A brace from Ben Nolan just before and after half time gave the visitors the win in October. Stow made the journey to Suffolk midway through February on a day of rain, snow, sleet and sun, but that didn’t stop Stow picking up three points thanks to goals in the second half from Tayo Oyebola and Louie Johnson.

Previous meetings

The first meeting between the two teams was in 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.