Saturday 24th October 2009

Ridgeons League Division One

Brantham Athletic 3 Diss Town 1

 Match Report by Tony Collins

Two crucial first half moments provided the key as Brantham Athletic beat Diss Town to move ahead of The Tangerines into 3^rd place. Diss missed a 2^nd minute penalty and were reduced to ten men in the 35^th minute.

Mark Shadrack played a fine through ball for Ben Soanes to run on to and be brought down by goalkeeper Ryan Bedingfield after 90 seconds. Shadrack had missed his last penalty by blasting against the bar against Team Bury. This time he hit his kick weakly to allow Bedingfield to make an easy save.

Ollie Mann missed a good 7^th minute chance for Brantham and Xavier Huckle shot high when well placed at the other end after 15 minutes. Ten minutes before the break Diss were shocked when referee John Mitchell interpreted a 50/50 challenge between Jason Hunt and Kieran Lawler as a stamp and sent off the Diss player.

The ten men still created some good chances in the second half. Sam Bryant and Soanes were both wide with reasonable chances to open the scoring. Sean Gunn put Brantham ahead when he was given too much time to turn in a 56^th minute centre. Four minutes later Matt Webster made a fine save to keep out a well struck shot from Lawler. Ollie Mann beat the offside trap and moved through before rounding Webster to shoot in to make it 2-0 in the 67^th minute.

Huckle was fouled in the 75^th minute. Brendan Foley sent the free kick across for Dave Adams to rise and head a goal back. Any hopes of The Tangerines gaining a point were extinguished two minutes from time when David Grimwood beat players before shooting in to make it 3-1.

- Dave Adams scores with a diving header -

Diss team: Matt Webster, Johnny King, Stuart Garner, Brendan Foley, Dave Adams, Mark Shadrack, Xavier Huckle, George Watts-Sturrock, Jason Hunt, Ben Soanes, Sam Bryant.

Diss subs:  Steve Wright (for Bryant 64mins), Christian Money, Jon Abbott and Rob Taylor.

Attendance: 60.