Diss Town 1 Brantham Athletic 0

Diss Town beat third-placed Brantham Athletic to make it seven wins from their last eight games.

The three games, including one on the FA Vase, between the two teams this season have been close affairs and all ended 1-0 to the home team.

Neither side was able to create an opening in the first 30 minutes with much of the play being aerial in nature. The first on-target shot of the game came in the 32nd minute when Brantham's Kieran Lawler hit a 20-yard left-foot shot which struck team-mate Lee Grimwood and flew away from goal.

Diss replied a minute later with a 35-yard left-foot shot from Brendan Foley being gathered low to his right by goalkeeper Ryan Bedingfield.

The only goal of the game came in the 55th minute when leading scorer James Pipe exchanged passes with Stuart Jopling and floated his right foot shot from the edge of the area with enough height that the ball looped into the net, despite Bedingfield getting his finger-tips to the ball.

The two Diss forwards have struck up a fine partnership in the eight games since Jopling joined, with Pipe scoring three of his 13 for the season in this period and Jopling two goals. Pipe came close to adding to the lead but had his shot blocked 10 minutes later.

In the 67th minute Alex Drennan headed against the bar at a corner and from the rebound Lawler had his shot blocked. Five minutes later Ollie Mann drew a great save from Matty Webster and there were strong appeals for a penalty for hand ball when Grimwood had his follow-up shot blocked with Drennan heading the loose ball against the bar.

Diss broke effectively in the closing stages of the game, but were grateful to another good save from Webster in added time to keep out a shot from Josh Mayhew to secure the win.

Diss: Matty Webster, Jason Cole, Stuart Garner, Aarron Taylor, Brendan Foley, Mark Shadrack, Joel Brien, Jamie Speller, Stuart Jopling, James Pipe, Michael Steward. Subs: George Watts-Sturrock, Danny Easlea (Jopling 84, Gareth Leggett, George Cole (Cole 90), Jonny King (Pipe 73).

Attendance: 100.

Man of the Match: Jason Cole.

On Saturday Diss will be away at Kirkley & Pakefield (kick off 3pm).

There will be free entry for all spectators when Diss visit F C Clacton on Saturday, April 28 as part of the celebrations planned when FC Clacton are presented with The Standard Charter Award by members of the Football Association.

Diss Reserves did not have a game last Saturday but will be at home to Great Yarmouth Town Reserves on Saturday (kick off 3pm) in their final game of the season.

There were two cup finals played at Brewers Green Lane last week. In The Ridgeons Chell Trophy Gorleston Reserves came from behind to beat AFC Sudbury Reserves 2-1. Danny Emmanuel put Sudbury ahead in the first minute of the second half. Matt Anderson equalised with an 82nd minute penalty and scored the winner a minute later. In The Merrick Hill South Norfolk Sunday League Players' Aid Cup Final Redgrave B took the lead through Martin Kent early in the second half. Carl Alexander equalised to take the game into extra time. Goals from Ed Hipperson and another from Kent in the second half of extra time secured a 3-1 win for Redgrave B.

There will be a quiz in aid of Help for Heroes at the club on Friday, April 20. Full details are available from Kevin Mullenger (evenings only please) on 07717 352433.