Diss Town 2 v 3 Gorleston Reserves

Tuesday 18th February 2025, Kick-off 19.45

Eastern Counties League Division One North

Brewers Green Lane, Diss

Admission: £7.00

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 129

A match report from a Diss perspective can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

Match Report - Written by Tony Collins

Diss, despite leading twice, were beaten by a controversial goal late in the game. There was a good attendance, boosted by representatives from Diss Town Council to watch the official unveiling of the new Brewers Green Lane floodlights. The lights were in use for the first time for a midweek First Team fixture. The Club thanked The Council for their generous support in making a grant for the change to LED lights. The project both improved the quality of lighting and assisted with energy efficiency.

Diss created several good opportunities in the opening half but had just the one goal to show for their efforts. It came in the 17th minute; Benji Blyth was fouled on half way but good advantage play meant that his fine pass to Alfie Sandon was rewarded. Hr ran from deep into the penalty area and he had a shot blocked, in the follow up play Charlie Webb had two shots blocked on the line as defenders moved deeper and deeper. A shot from Malachi Wright suffered the same fate before Wright was able to steer the loose ball low into the corner of the net from four yards out.

Ryan Newson made one excellent save in this period to turn a 25-yard free kick over the bar. Two minutes before half time Connor Ingram sent a penalty kick low into the corner of the net after a push on an attacker was penalised.

The Tangerines regained the lead in the 51st minute; a deep lofted pass from Kehan Whitby travelled 50 yards and into the penalty area for Webb to head across. A hesitant visiting goalkeeper was punished as Liam Jackson side stepped into space and sent a shot from an acute angle on the right low into the far corner of the net.

The lead only lasted eight minutes as the unmarked and unchallenged Declan Allan headed The Greens level from inside the six-yard area.

The final goal of the game came in the 79th minute with Diss appealing for offside, a claim that was supported after the game by the travelling and well placed to judge Gorleston club officials. Play continued with Joel Watts scoring. Kyle Baker was initially sent to the ‘sin bin’ for his protests but collected another yellow card reducing The Tangerines to ten players for the rest of the game. The task to get an equaliser proved too difficult.