Stuart Wardley says a recurrence of bad habits was the catalyst for Saffron Walden Town’s nine-game unbeaten Thurlow Nunn Premier Division run coming to an end at Gorleston on Saturday.

The Bloods, who finished the game with 10 men after the dismissal of Ryan Fleming, were second best in most departments with the home side running out deserved 2-0 winners at Emerald Park.

The result handed Town a haunting double as The Greens were the last time to beat the Catons Lane side, back in December, and player-manager Wardley was disappointed by his trip to the seaside.

Wardley told the Reporter: “We let ourselves down on Saturday and slipped into bad habits.

“We didn’t continue the defending that our unbeaten run has been bullt on and our decision-making was poor. It was a disappointing day.”

Things don’t get any easier for 10th-placed Town as they host league leaders Mildenhall Town on Saturday but Wardley says the pressure is on the Suffolk club.

He continued: “This season we’ve beaten them both times we’ve played them [league and FA Cup] so hopefully we can pull it off again.

“They’ll be looking for revenge but if we can do what we have done in the previous two games we’ve got a good chance of taking the points again.”