Tuesday 2nd December  2008

Ridgeons League Division One Cup Quarter Final

Sponsors

MOCO TRAVEL

Diss Town progressed to the Semi Final stage of The Ridgeons League Division One Cup with their third 3-0 success in the competition with three early goals on a bitterly cold night at Brewers Green Lane against Long Melford, who are 4^th bottom in the league table. The only other confirmed Semi Finalists are Hadleigh United. The other ties – Debenham v Downham and Newmarket v Hadleigh – are yet to be played.

The opening goal came in the 11^th minute. Andy Moody crossed the ball from the right and found Steve Wright, brother of Danny who played in Histon’s F. A. Cup win over Leeds on Sunday, with time and space at the far post to control the ball and shoot in from close range. Three minutes later Moody was brought down by a late tackle from Dean Costello after he crossed the ball from near the goal line and just inside the six yard area. Referee Jon White awarded a penalty and Adie Hayes sent Floyd Croll the wrong way with his penalty kick which went into the corner of the net. The game was effectively settled in the 21^st minute when a long clearance from Steve Best bounced for Danny Partridge to head from 30 yards out over the advancing Croll. Partridge ran on to tap the ball into the unguarded goal to complete the scoring at 3-0.

Long Melford looked unlikely to pull a goal back and it was just a case of if The Tangerines could add to their goal tally. They did not, partly due to some off target efforts and partly due to some good goalkeeping from Croll. Ben Soanes was only narrowly wide with a header to a 67^th minute Ed Cussons free kick. Diss produced a fine move in the 78^th minute when Osiris Gomes ran at the visiting defence and played a perfect pass for Hayes to play the ball out to Wright on the left. He moved forward and cut in before forcing Croll to parry his low shot with the loose ball being kicked away to safety by a defender. Five minutes from time Partridge ran at the defence and played the ball out to Soanes on the right. He moved forward and crossed low for Gomes to control and turn in one movement and draw a fine point blank save from Croll.

Diss team: Ashley Smith, Mark Shadrack, Ed Cussons, James Wilson, Steve Best, Adie Hayes, Andy Moody, Osiris Gomes, Danny Partridge, Ben Soanes, Steve Wright.

Diss subs: Craigh Beckham (for Wright 85 mins), Brendan Foley, George Wilson (for Moody 70 mins) and Nathan Brown (for Gomes 85 mins).

Attendance: 53.

Match Sponsor: S V Harvey and Son, Building Contractors of Wreningham.