When all is said and done, a draw was probably about right during Mildenhall Town's trip to Mulbarton Wanderers on the opening day of the new Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division season.

Mildenhall will probably feel they should have had a greater lead than their one goal advantage going into the break, but in the second half the newly-promoted hosts showed they will cause plenty of teams at this level problems in the months to come. And they had a golden chance to win the game late on from the penalty spot, but Mildenhall's returning goalkeeper Josh Pope (pictured, courtesy of Bill Malone) made amends for his foul.

Quick out of the traps, it took the away team 10 minutes to break the deadlock. Left-back Darryl Coakley exchanged passes with Scott Chaplin from a corner on the right and then arrowed a rising shot from the edge of the area in off the far post.

Natty Stewart lifted his effort in the 24th minute on to the roof of the net before Luke Butcher and Phil Weavers were both denied by goal-line saves within a matter of seconds as Ricky Cornish's side went in search of a second goal.

There was then controversy a couple of minutes before the break after Mulbarton goalkeeper Charlie Phillips handled the ball outside of his box as Stewart looked to pull the trigger. However, the referee opted against brandishing a red card, leaving Phillips available to save the resultant free-kick from Coakley.

Another set-piece up the other end moments later almost drew Mulbarton level with Daniel Beaumont curling his effort against the outside of the upright.

Beaumont went close with another free-kick five minutes into the second half, which signalled the moment the home team started to dominate proceedings.

And they were eventually rewarded 15 minutes from the end when substitute Matt Doyle ran clear of the Mildenhall defence, showed good composure to round Pope and then roll the ball into an empty net.

Goalscoring openings had been few and far between throughout the second half for Mildenhall, yet they created one of their best of the game in the 87th minute when Kaine Manels crossed for fellow substitute Ben Nolan, only for the winger to lift his close range effort over the bar.

Mulbarton then had an even better opportunity within 60 seconds after Pope was adjudged to have fouled the lively Doyle inside the box, but the 'keeper got down well to his right to save Beaumont's well driven shot from the spot and then pounce on the rebound.

So it's now five seasons in a row in which Mildenhall have been unable to pick up maximum points on the opening day and they move on to Tuesday when Ely City will be the visitors to Recreation Way - KO 7.45pm.