Mildenhall Town 2, Tilbury 1

DOCKERS' opening encounter on Saturday (9 August) in the Isthmian North 2025-6 season saw them start with just two players who finished the last campaign - Connor Martin and Jamie Reynolds.

Before the match Do9ckers added to their squad with the signing of David Aderibigbe, who scored in pre-season against basildon - - and he went straight into the starting line-up.

Mildenhall started the game the much stronger of the two sides, nearly taking the lead after just three minutes when an inviting delivery from the right wing was attacked by Tanner Call, who had a free header from five yards out, but Harry Fairs dove across, putting his body on the line, to make an incredible save.

Fairs was called to action again just two minutes later, making another great save at his near post to deny the hosts taking the lead with a header following a corner. Tilbury survived this early onslaught and managed to craft an attack of their own. The ball was fired into Juwon Akintunde with his back to goal, as the striker set a lovely, cushioned pass to the arriving Jamie Reynolds. Reynolds struck the ball first time on the volley but his effort flew just over the crossbar.

The hosts would eventually take the lead on the half-hour mark when Call beat his man on the left before drilling a low cross towards the edge of the area. Ryan Sharman was the target, and the striker calmly fired into the bottom right-hand corner to open the scoring.

 Dockers almost found a swift response as, straight from kick-off, Max Appauh found space to run through the heart of the Mildenhall defence, but his shot was well saved by Finley Iron.

In the 60th minute, Tilbury looked to come alive as substitutes, Oli Spooner, Dan Trendall and Darren Phillips made their way onto the pitch.

And they almost made an instant impact, as Jamie Reynolds chopped back onto his right foot to dig out a cross towards the back post. Darren Phillips rose well to meet it, but his header bounced agonisingly wide. Still pushing for an equaliser, Appauh was brought down as he broke away from the last defender. However, the winger was up on his feet straight away to release Trendall with a quick free kick. Trendall ran through one-on-one, but Iron guessed the right way early and made a very good save.

The Hall had a chance to kill the game off when Ryan Swift was gifted his own one-on-one opportunity, but once again, the keeper would come out on top as Fairs stood tall and made another brilliant save.

And it proved to be vital as in stoppage time, Oli Spooner took a touch around the corner and unleashed a rocket on the swivel that flew past the keeper and into the top right-hand corner.

It seemed likely that there would be a fairytale ending with Tilbury rescueing a point away from home. But fairytales aren't real… and with the last chance of the match, Mildenhall launched a long throw into the area where it was flicked on towards the back post.

Swift was the man waiting as he emphatically fired home to snatch back the points and keep them firmly at The Riverside Stadium.

Dockers have a chance to put things right as they are back in action on Tuesday (12 August) when they play host to Concord Rangers,  7.45pm kick-off.