Maldon Cricket Club skipper Martyn Coker believes the loss of early wickets were key to his side’s defeat at Mildenhall.

Maldon fell to a ten-wicket defeat against a strong Mildenhall outfit.

The visitors were dismissed for 74 and it didn’t take long for Mildenhall to rattle off their 78 winning runs.

That makes it back-to-back defeats in Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one for Coker’s side, after losing to Sudbury the previous week.

Coker said: “We won the toss and decided to bat first on a good- looking pitch.

“We struggled early on though against a young Mildenhall bowling attack who bowled well.

“Three early wickets put us on the back foot, and we never recovered from that point.

“We lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually being dismissed for 74.

“With the bat, the Mildenhall openers attacked from ball one, and knocked off the small target in short time.”

Maldon had lost three wickets for 14 runs before an attempt was made to steady the ship.

Only three visiting batsmen made it to double figures with Chris Harris hitting 11, Robb MacMillan 24 and Coker 17.

In reply, Mildenhall’s Joe Reed hit 62 not out, backed by Luke Youngs scoring 16, to maintain their unbeaten record so far.

Coker is looking to regather his troops and prepare for this weekend’s next league fixture.

He said: “We must stay together as a team as we look to come back from a tough start to the season against Mistley at Drapers Farm this Saturday.”