Mildenhall Town 0 Stanway Rovers 3 THE shock of the day in the Ridgeons Premier League s opening day of the season, was Mildenhall suffering this heavy home defeat against newly-promoted Stanway Rovers. Mildenhall had shown good form in the pre-season war

Mildenhall Town 0 Stanway Rovers 3

THE shock of the day in the Ridgeons Premier League's opening day of the season, was Mildenhall suffering this heavy home defeat against newly-promoted Stanway Rovers.

Mildenhall had shown good form in the pre-season warm up games, particularly against Sudbury and Bury, so a positive start to the season was expected.

The home side started the match brightly when, after just five minutes, Adie Hayes forced a save with a well hit drive from 25 yards. Then, from the resulting corner, defender Colin Vowden powered a header against the post before it was cleared away to safety.

Mildenhall were then on the back-foot and would have been a goal down mid-way through the first half if it were not for a top-class headed clearance off the line from Louis Farrington.

Stanway took the lead just before the half hour mark when Farrington's mis-control allowed Turner, who was last season's leading goal scorer in the first division, in on goal, and he finished clinically. Mildenhall were lucky to be just a goal down at half-time, and a fantastic save from Ben Nower, from a headed effort, ensured they were still in the match.

A controversial goal, early in the second half, put the home side two down. A quick free-kick from Paul Miles was blocked by Stanway player, North, who was standing just two yards away, and then, with the Mildenhall players up the field in attack, North squared the ball to Turner who made no mistake and scored his second.

North completed his hat-trick five

minutes later with a neat finish to kill off

the game.

Mildenhall manager, Trevor Munns threw on all three substitutes and this brought some much-needed urgency, but, despite creating a couple of decent chances, the home side were unable to pull a goal back.

To cap off a rotten opening day to the season for Mildenhall, they were reduced to 10 men when Hayes was sent off for foul and abusive language towards an official.