Downham Town 1 Diss Town 0: Below-par Tangerines beaten by controversial goal

Diss Town followed up last week's top quality performance against second placed Mulbarton Wanderers with a poor display at Downham, with the game being settled by a disputed goal in the first minute of the second half.

Both teams managed one on target shot in the first half. Kingsley Barnes dived to his right to gather a fifth minute shot after home forward Jack Frohawk had run at the Diss defence and hit a 15 yard right foot shot.

Ten minutes later Charlie Webb headed a long free-kick from Barnes for Connor Kerry to head into the path of Stephen Vincent who allowed the ball to bounce before sending a 25 yard left foot shot at Duncan McAnally.

In the opening action of the second half the Diss defence stopped as an offside flag was raised. Frohawk raced through to collect the ball and shoot in, with Diss arms raised. After a consultation the goal was awarded, with the player in an offside position ruled to be not in active play.

There was more controversy in the 65th minute at a Downham corner. Frohawk hit a low shot which seemed to hit the low support on the moveable goal frame inside the goal but the officials ruled that it had struck the base of the post.

Diss were being restricted to mostly long range shots as they attempted to get back into the game, but it was Downham who had the final on target shot, in the fifth minute of added time, when Barnes made a good save to keep out a 25 yard free-kick from Frohawk.

Team: Barnes, White, Last, Pain, Tipple, Hagan, Baxter (Staines 62), Lucraft, Webb, Vincent (Baughurst 51), Kerry (Whayman 51). Subs not used: Lanchester, Bullingham. Attendance: 65.

Diss Town are at home to AFC Sudbury Reserves on Saturday in another Thurlow Nunn League North game (3pm).

Diss Under-18s lost 1-0 at home to Great Yarmouth Under-18s while the Under-15 Hawks were beaten 3-0 by visitors Norwich United.