Saturday 25th April 2009 –

Ridgeons League Division One

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Halstead Town 2 Diss Town 1

Match Report - Tony Collins

Diss made three changes to the team which had won The Ridgeons League Division One Cup Final as they were beaten by a Halstead team needing to win their remaining games to pip Debenham for promotion. Luke Catchpole, available again after a five match suspension replaced the suspended George Wilson, with Danny Jones and Terry Minshull replacing Jason Hunt and Jake Berry.

Halstead had more of the ball in the first half but Diss created two fine chances and had a corner count of 7-3 in their favour. Danny Partridge was denied by Ed Wooten early on, although by then the team from Essex should have been in the lead but Chris Bryan shot wide from a fine chance. Wooten came out to save well at the feet of Ben Soanes on half time.

Partridge was denied by a good tackle from Danny Rowell at the start of the second half. Halstead began to increase the pace of their play and Jimmy Pirie smashed a shot against the crossbar before Matty Hill made a great save to keep out a header from Steve Daly.

Halstead opened the scoring after an hour when Ray Turner headed in a corner from Bryan. Ten minutes later they made it 2-0 from a penalty kick taken by Bryan. It was awarded from a hand ball by James Wilson to a centre from Pirie.

Halstead created several more chances which they spurned and this allowed the final score line to be closer than the game really was when Diss scored with the last action of the match. It came when the home defence failed to clear, as they should have done, the ball and Ben Soanes shot in for his 7^th goal since joining The Tangerines.

Diss team: Matty Hill, Stuart Jenkinson, Ed Cussons, Dave Adams, James Wilson, Danny Jones, Terry Minshull, Luke Catchpole, Danny Partridge, Ben Soanes, Steve Wright.

Diss subs:  Mark Shadrack (for Minshull), Rob Taylor and Scott Thaxton.