Saturday 17th January  2009

Ridgeons League Division One

Sponsors

MOCO TRAVEL

Diss Town entertained second from bottom Saffron Walden at Brewers Green Lane. They were without their suspended captain Steve Best. Ben Soanes moved to the back and his height and strength were missed in attack. However, it was The Tangerines who were fortunate to come out of the game with a point after a poor display as their visitors failed to take advantage of some very good chances as they played out their 8^th league draw so far this season. Diss had picked up 14 points from their previous six games but this performance left manager Rob Taylor “surprised and disappointed for our supporters, I can only apologise to them. There were some harsh words at half time but we didn’t really deserve to win this game.”

After a very quiet opening Saffron Walden went into the lead in the 15^th minute. Greg Strong collected the ball inside the penalty area and rounded Matty Hill before crossing from near the goal line for Tom Richardson to head in from two yards out. A cross from Mark Shadrack was cleared off the line and a goal bound Adie Hayes flew wide off the back of team-mate Andy Moody in rare Diss attempts at goal. It was Richardson who should have made it 2-0 in the 38^th minute. He burst clear on to a through ball and steered his shot past Hill and on to a post. Kevin Vallis followed up and hit his shot at a height which gave Hill a chance to make a superb diving save to his left.

Hill made another good save to his left when he pushed away a 49^th minute Vallis free kick. A header from Luke Catchpole was just wide to a 54^th minute Ed Cussons free kick with the dangerous Richardson heading on to the roof of the net at the other end seven minutes later. Diss equalised in the 63^rd minute. Danny Partridge was fouled as he played the ball to release Moody. Good advantage play allowed Moody to run to the goal line and cross low from the left for Ben Deacon, playing his first match at this level for nine weeks due to injury, to steer the ball up and over goalkeeper David Pledger from two yards out. Three minutes later there was intense Diss pressure at a corner. They were unable to score and the visitors broke quickly with Vallis shooting over an open goal from four yards out with the best chance of the match.

Diss team: Matty Hill, Mark Shadrack, Ed Cussons, James Wilson, Ben Soanes, Adie Hayes, Osiris Gomes, Luke Catchpole, Danny Partridge, Ben Deacon, Andy Moody.

Diss subs: Danny Jones (for Catchpole 89 mins), George Wilson (for Hayes 89 mins) and Mark Fowler (for Moody 70 mins).

Attendance: 115.

Match Sponsor: Adela Clark.

Match Sponsor’s Diss man of the Match: Matty Hill.