Diss Town travelled to Braintree with a depleted squad due to injuries, suspension, holidays and a wedding and found their young hosts' pace difficult to cope with.

Within 20 seconds Lewis Riches used his body to deny Joe Jones and from the resulting corner Diss counter-attacked and Phil Myles run into the penalty area ended with his shot from an acute angle flashing narrowly wide.

Braintree took the lead in the 20th minute when the ball was pulled back from near the goal-line to Matt Baxter outside the penalty area. He created space and beat his marker before sending a 20 yard right foot shot low into the corner of the net.

It seemed as though Diss would have the chance to go in at half time just one goal down, despite having less of the play. But in added time Sol Pope was adjudged to have tripped Baxter. who picked himself up to send his low penalty into the corner of the net.

Diss were positive in their attempts to find a way back into the game, Luke Priestley went on a fine 58th minute run and had his shot blocked and the ball fell for Josh Wade to have a shot from eight yards which was well saved by Harry Aldridge.

Seventeen-year-old Dan Whyman, on debut, had his on target shot from outside the area saved by Aldridge in the 68th minute with Diss pressing for a goal back. Braintree continued to look dangerous on the break however and from one such move, following a Diss free-kick in an attacking position, Jones shot against a post.

Priestley hit a fine 30 yard shot that Aldridge did well to tip over in the 76th minute and from the resulting corner Wesley Doyle had a shot from 15 yards that was blocked. Braintree moved forward and a fine passing move ended with Baxter completing his hat-trick from close range. Riches the made a good block save to deny Bailey Jones as the game moved into added time.

Diss Town: Lewis Riches, Sol Pope, Ryan Beeston, Jack Tipple, Ian Lemon, Joe Gilbert, Josh Wade, Wesley Doyle, Luke Priestley, Phil Myles, Ryan Sparrow. Subs: Charlie Bowen (Lemon 75), Robbie Goodwin (Priestley 83), Dan Whyman (Gilbert 55) and Justin King.

Diss had a night to forget on Tuesday, crashing to a 7-0 defeat at Framlingham Town. The next Thurlow Nunn League fixture is at home to Needham Market Reserves on Tuesday (7.45pm).