Wednesday 25^th March 2009 – Ridgeons League Division One

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Click HERE for penalty re-take video clip

Diss seemed set to win this match, after a poor start, when they went 2-1 up early in the second half. However, a number of missed chances and some poor defending cost them dear. Not even a late penalty, taken twice, could see The Tangerines rescue a point.

The pre-match drama was whether the match would be played. Heavy early evening rain left puddles in several areas of the pitch. By kick off time the ground staff had got the pitch to a state where a game was possible, but there were heavy areas and players from both sides struggled to keep their feet. Terry Minshull started a match at this level for the first with work commitments ruling out Danny Partridge, Steve Wright and Luke Catchpole.

Diss had more of the early attacking play but were punished for not clearing a 7^th minute corner with Sam Bartholomew shooting low into the corner of the net from 12 yards out. Ross Charters was forced to finger tip a low Mark Shadrack shot away for a corner. The equaliser came in the 29^th minute when a well delivered free kick from the right by Ed Cussons was flicked by the head of Ben Soanes past Charters from five yards out. Soanes was narrowly wide to a Cussons cross and Steve Best had two shots from just outside the penalty area gathered by Charters as Diss finished the first half strongly.

It came as no surprise that The Tangerines went into the lead in the 48^th minute. Steve Best turned in, from close range, a Cussons corner from the right to make it 2-1. The Diss passing became slick and accurate as they grew in confidence. However, Stow equalised in the 64^th minute when a free kick from near half way and wide on the left by Dean Pleasance was headed in by Tony Cracknell from nine yards out.

Ten minutes later the home team went ahead after a move down their right wing out of defence. Bartholomew beat the advancing Scott Thaxton and crossed low towards the far post. A defender attempted to clear but the ball went into the net off Jamie Sharp. With in a minute Diss had the chance to snatch a point from a hotly disputed penalty kick. Danny Jones was tripped and there were strong and vocal protests. Referee Martin Coxall had to speak to players from both sides amid an atmosphere of confrontation. He warned the home players to stay out of the penalty area. The warning was ignored and when Charters saved the kick from Cussons a retake was ordered. This was three minutes after the original award. Again Charters dived to block the kick from Cussons and did even better on the follow up shot before being fouled.

There were chances at set pieces for Diss but Charters was forced into just one more save. It came in the 84^th minute when he brilliantly saved from point blank range as Soanes beat the offside trap.

Diss team: Scott Thaxton, Mark Shadrack, Ed Cussons, James Wilson, Dave Adams, George Wilson, Terry Minshull, Danny Jones, Steve Best, Ben Soanes, Stuart Jenkinson.

Diss subs: Craigh Beckham (for Jones 90 + 1 mins), Karl Ansley (for Minshull 85 mins) and Rob Taylor.

Attendance: 77.