Tangerines give high-flyers a real scare before late heartbreak
Diss Town manager Jason Cook saw his side give Whitton United a good game. Picture: Denise Bradley - Credit: Archant
This would be a test of how much progress Diss Town had made in the nine weeks since being beaten 8-0 in the corresponding home fixture.
The Tangerines passed the first 45 minutes with high marks, their dominance only rewarded with a one goal lead.
Their promotion chasing hosts scored three second half goals to win for the 15th time this season, but the scoreline was a very flattering one.
In the 12th minute Diss won a corner down their left wing. Ryan Beeston sent the kick curling towards the far post and Jake Gathercole met the ball with a downward header from three yards out to score his first goal for the club.
The first key decision of the game came in the 31st minute when Virgilio Leitao ran on to a through ball and was challenged by Ross Welton. The keeper got his hand to the ball in the dive as he sent Leitao sprawling to the floor. The referee originally awarded a penalty but after strong home protests consulted an assistant referee and changed the award to a corner. Beeston sent the ball in from the right and Tom Ramsay sent a header against the bar.
Four minutes later a deft back header from Deivyas Andriuskevicius to a Beeston free-kick found the arms of Welton.
Whitton pressed early in the second half and Duane Wright headed against the bar before Leitao had a shot deflected wide, Beeston was narrowly over with a well struck shot and a combination of Welton and Josh Hitter cleared off the line after the ball was given away to Leitao.
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Ramsay required treatment and was waiting to come back on to the field in the 66th minute when Whitton broke down the middle and exploited the space with Liam Wales running through and sliding home the equaliser.
The next crucial moment came in the 77th minute when, following an aerial challenge involving several players from both teams, Whitton were awarded a penalty and Inglis made it 2-1.
The scoring was completed two minutes later when Diss gave the ball away and Josh Stevens scored from an acute angle.
Team: Hayhoe, Riches, Beeston, Tipple, Ramsay, Vincent, Andriuskevicius, Nogueira, Leitao, Gathercole, Fena. Subs: Malin, Lambe (Fena 61), Cooke (Nogueira 80), Goulding.
Diss Town are at home to Cornard United on Saturday (3pm).
