Mildenhall Town manager Phil Weavers reflects on ‘poor performance’ during Newmarket Town defeat

Manager Phil Weavers conceded that his Mildenhall Town side got what they deserved during Tuesday evening’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of neighbouring Newmarket Town.

Having lost playmaker Jake Chambers-Shaw (illness) and Jed Wigley (injury) in the build-up to the derby, Weavers opted to tinker with his usual tactical approach.

Yet it was the visitors that claimed all three points thanks to a strike from distance by former Mildenhall frontman Josh Lee, who rejoined Newmarket prior to kick off.

“They deserved to win the game – there are no excuses from me,” said Weavers. “We’ve been excellent this season. I can pick out a few performances where we’ve let ourselves down in moments in games, but that’s just a poor performance from minute one to 90.

“We changed the way we played, which was probably a mistake on my part. We lost a couple of players before the game so we tinkered with things and I can hold my hands up to that – maybe I should have stuck and made straight switches.

“But from what we know of Newmarket – we know each other well now – we felt we could combat some of their strengths and exaggerate some of our own, but it didn’t materialise.

“Football is not played by magnets on a tactics board, it’s played by players out on the pitch. You can have all of the best ideas in the world but if it’s not executed then you won’t win.

“At the same time, like I said before, I have to take some of the responsibility because I’ve changed it. We haven’t played like that all season in terms of formation.”

Despite the setback, the bigger picture for Mildenhall remains positive.

Saturday’s 2-1 win at Wroxham moved Weavers’ team up to 14th and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Weavers added: “This result doesn’t define our season. We’re still scrapping and we’re not out of it. Our incentive – like Newmarket – is to stay in this league and we’ve put ourselves in a good position.

“This (defeat) hurts it, but it doesn’t define it. What we need now is a reaction and I’m sure we’ll get that.

“It’s a poor performance and that’s been magnified by the fact it was a derby, but the lads have been brilliant all season and we’ll pick ourselves up quickly.”

Mildenhall will aim to bounce back at the first time of asking on Saturday when they play host to sixth-placed Walthamstow (3pm).