Penalty woe for Tangerines

Diss Town hope to reverse the defeats of recent games when they visit March on Saturday while the reserves host Lowestoft Reserves.

On Wednesday, the Tangerines visited Stowmarket in Ridgeons Division One and lost 3-2.

Stowmarket took the lead in the seventh minute when Diss failed to clear a corner and Sam Bartholomew shot home.

The Diss equaliser came in the 29th minute when a corner from Ed Cussons was headed in by Ben Soanes from five yards out.

Another corner from Cussons saw Diss take the lead in the 48th minute when Steve Best turned the ball in from close range.

Tony Cracknall headed the equaliser in the 64th minute from a Dean Pleasance free-kick.

In the 74th minute Bartholomew produced a low cross from the right and Jamie Sharp turned the ball in at the far post for the winner.

There was still time for Diss to equalise when they were awarded a penalty a minute later but after a series of lengthy delays Cussons saw his kick and the resulting re-take both saved by Ross Charters.

On Saturday, Debenham won a match at Diss Town FC for the first time as three late goals gave the final scoreline of 4-0 a flattering look.

But there is no doubting the Hornets deserved their win.

Illness to Matty Hill meant that Scott Thaxton made his debut in goal following his transfer from Dereham during the week. He had made a fine debut for Diss Reserves at Leiston on Wednesday.

Reserve team captain Dave Adams was given a well-deserved opportunity, with Steve Best away for the weekend, at centre-half and had a fine first game at this level.

The game was progressing with little to report but for the second week running it was the referee who was the focus of the attention.

However, this week it was caused by injury rather than any decision. After 29 minutes Chris Dale suffered a knee injury and was replaced by his senior assistant referee, Phil South.

Both refereed the game well. Match reporter Derek Nevitt took over the vacant assistant referee role.

Debenham went ahead in the 31st minute when a corner from Warren Taylor-Holt was put in by Shaun French. Luke catchpole had a chance to equalise before the half-time break but the chance went begging.

Diss went in search of an equaliser in the second half but lacked penetration in the final third of the field.

It seemed as though the game was drifting for a 1-0 win to the Hornets until they scored three times inside the final five minutes.

Thaxton had done well to deny ex-Tangerine Stuart Jopling but was unable to do so when he made it 2-0 to a pass from Ian Gedney in the 85th minute.

Two minutes later Gedney scored a goal of his own as Diss were caught out chasing the game.

In added time Dale Vince headed the ball over Thaxton and despite a goal line clearance by Stuart Jenkinson Jopling shot the loose ball high into the net.