Needham Market Res 0 Diss Town 1

Diss visited bottom of the table side Needham Market Reserves and had to work hard for their narrow win.

Needham had their best chance of the match in the second minute, with keeper Will Izod watching anxiously as a goal-bound shot was cleared by a defender.

The Tangerines soon found their rhythm and played some good football on the muddy surface. They forced a number of corners and won several free-kicks and Sam Page went closest to opening the scoring when his header from a corner just cleared the crossbar in the 17th minute.

The home defence was under a lot of pressure at this stage and in the 28th minute the Tangerines again came close to scoring when Danny Self's dipping shot from the edge of the area hit the angle of post and crossbar. The Diss pressure soon paid off and they took the lead two minutes later when Page turned and shot in one movement to convert Self's cross from eight yards out. Soon after the game was delayed for six minutes when Jason Armes received treatment for an ankle injury. In the 41st minute the game was delayed for a further three minutes when home goalkeeper Matthew Bradshaw was injured in a challenge with Jamie George and Needham had to bring on their substitute goalkeeper Tyler Hursey.

Ten minutes into the second half the Tangerines enjoyed another period of sustained pressure, but Hursey acquitted himself well, saving Armes' angled drive.

In the 66th minute Diss should have increased their lead when they were awarded a penalty when Page was brought down in the area. Jason Armes' firm side-foot penalty was on target, but Hursey guessed right and dived full-length to push the ball behind for a corner.

A minute later Sean Brown slid in at the far post and was a whisker away from turning Self's low cross into the net as the visitors had to settle for the one goal..

The Tangerines are at home to AFC Sudbury Reserves on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.