Saturday 24th January  2009

Ridgeons League Division One

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Diss Town fell to a second successive away defeat and have now taken just two points from their last four games. Manager Rob Taylor brought Steve Best back into the defence after a two match suspension and pushed Ben Soanes into attack in place of Ben Deacon, who dropped down to the substitutes bench.

The Tangerines had more of the first half play but only had a single goal lead to show for it at the break. The goal came in the 18^th minute when Luke Catchpole played the ball across for George Wilson to volley in from the edge of the penalty area for his 4^th goal of the season. The best chance to increase the lead came just before half time when Danny Jones played the ball across for Danny Partridge. He was unable to get a shot in but the ball ran to Ben Soanes to shoot wide.

Downham equalised in the 48^th minute. There was confusion between Steve Best and James Wilson and the ball ran through to Ash Smith to shoot past Matty Hill. Hill made a superb block to deny Smith when he ran clear and Ben Coe shot wide as Downham looked the more likely to get a winner. They did do three minutes into added time. Craig Dickson raced away and was brought down just outside the penalty area by Adie Hayes, who was sent off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Coe sent the free kick into the top corner of the net to decide the match.

Diss team: Matty Hill, Mark Shadrack, Ed Cussons, James Wilson, Steve Best, Adie Hayes, Luke Catchpole, George Wilson, Danny Partridge, Ben Soanes, Danny Jones.

Diss subs: Osiris Gomes (for G Wilson 82 mins), Andy Moody, Steve Wright (for Catchpole 75 mins), Ben Deacon (for Partridge 71 mins) and Mark Fowler.

Attendance: 102 – the highest so far this season at Downham.