What was disappointing was that having defended well up the slope in the first half, Woodbridge conceded a soft goal just before the interval and then dominated for 20 minutes afterwards without scoring the equaliser that they threatened.

A penalty and a scrappy goal seven minutes from time then completed an unhappy visit to Recway for the Woodpeckers.

Woodbridge lined-up with Ben Miller at centre back in place of the unavailable Mark Roper while there was a first start of the season for fit-again Paul Berry. Tony Boto and Lee O'Neill were both ruled out through holiday and injury respectively.

There was a let off for Woodbridge in the 10th minute when Matty Clements headed back across goal and Ben Miller challenged for the ball and diverted it on to his own post before Ben Cranfield lifted the rebound over the bar.

Allicion Blake's first time volley was high and wide after a good crossfield ball from Berry while at the other end Marcus Garnham beat away a good 20-yard effort from Craig Hammond. Aaron Churchyard's cross to the far post saw Grant Monaghan reach the ball first but his effort was saved down at the foot of the post by Ben Nower in the 23rd minute.

Two minutes later Berry got behind the defence on to Churchyard's long ball and Nower had to rush from his goal to block his shot, and in the 39th minute a good build-up involving Jon Bickers, Blake and Berry ended with Paul Hart curling his shot over the bar.

Ben Seaman, now operating on the right wing, then turned his man and fed Blake who spun but sent his shot just over the bar in the 43rd minute.

A minute later Seaman was harshly adjudged to have fouled and from the resultant free-kick by Andy Lodge, Clements' back header drifted just inside the far post with Marcus Garnham flat-footed.

Hart had a free header from Berry's left-wing corner on the stroke of half-time but failed to get it on target and Woodbridge could consider themselves unlucky to be behind as the teams came off.

Woodbridge seized the initiative at the start of the second half and a good ball by Jamie Scales saw Blake square to Churchyard whose shot, although not cleanly struck, was gathered by Nower at the second attempt.

Berry saw a shot deflected for a corner after a good run by Churchyard and then Blake nipped in ahead of his marker but could not steer his first-time effort on target from Berry's cross.

In the 62nd minute Ben Garnham beat two defenders and let fly from 25 yards with a shot that was destined for the top corner until Nower produced the best save of the match to fingertip the ball over the bar.

Seaman then passed up Woodbridge's best chance of an equaliser four minutes later when Marcus Garnham's long kick was flicked on by Blake and Seaman's pace took him clear of two defenders before he struck his shot wide with just Nower to beat.

After both sides made substitutions Mildenhall scored against the run of play in the 72nd minute when Scales tackled full-back Graham Rush on the edge of the area and the assistant referee, Mandy Waite, flagged for a penalty. Ben Cranfield slotted home to put Mildenhall in the ascendency.

Luke Read replaced the tiring Ben Garnham and was booked within seconds for a late tackle and Matt Robinson volleyed just wide before Mildenhall, now knocking the ball round with more confidence, wrapped up the points in the 83rd minute when Scales' clearance from a right-wing cross rebounded off Hammond past a bemused Marcus Garnham.

Woodbridge team: Marcus Garnham, Jon Bickers, Jamie Scales, Ben Miller, Grant Monaghan (sub Tom Trevivian 83 mins), Aaron Churchyard, Paul Hart, Ben Garnham (sub Luke Read 77 mins), Ben Seaman, Allicion Blake, Paul Berry (sub Arran Sheppard 71 mins).