Tuesday 2^nd February 2010
Ridgeons League One

Diss Town 4 Thetford Town 2   
 

Match Report - Tony Collins

Diss Town made it two home wins and ten goals scored inside four days with a local derby win against a Thetford side that got back into the contest late on. The pitch was in excellent condition despite the continuous rain of the day and a flurry of snow half an hour before kick off. There were three Diss and four Thetford players playing against their old teams in a lively and open game.

Matt Webster, back in the team, made a superb 4^th minute save diving to his left to push away a 20 yard Ryan Haynes shot. The first goal of the game came to Diss in the 28^th minute, although Thetford had enjoyed more of the play until this point. Brendan Foley played the ball out wide to Peter Hooks on the right. Hooks had travelled back from The Midlands in the afternoon and said “that is how committed I am to play”. He squared the ball for Luke Catchpole to shoot in from close range. George Watts-Sturrock just failed to get his toe to a Stuart Garner cross and Dan Wynne was only inches high with a shot from 16 yards as it seemed that The Tangerines would add to their lead. They did in the 41^st minute when a cross from Brendan Foley out wide on the left looped high over Mark Bowden and ended up in the far top corner of the net.

Webster was in fine second half form and made saves at regular intervals. This included keeping out a fine Ashley Thompson header at a corner and thwarting Simon Mann after a superb run. Bowden was also in action and used his feet to deny Sam Bryant in the 66^th minute. Bryant picked up a loose ball in the 71^st minute and found Jon Abbott in space inside the penalty area. The 18 year old local lad took his time to control the ball and move forward to coolly shoot in from 12 yards out for his first goal at this level.

The game seemed to have a twist as Thetford scored twice inside five minutes to make it 3-2. Chris Collins-Reed released Chris Walsh in the 78^th minute to cross low from the right for Matt Dixon to score from close range, although Mark Shadrack may have got the final touch. Five minutes later Craig Skipp brought Dixon down. He got up to tuck the ball past Webster.

Just two minutes later Skipp sent over a free kick from the left. Catchpole’s header was blocked but the loose ball dropped for Luke Catchpole to make it three goals in two games with a shot from less than 12 days out. In added time Collins-Reed return to Brewers Green Lane proved to be an unhappy one; he was sent off for a second caution.

Diss team: Matt Webster, Stuart Jenkinson, Stuart Garner, Mark Shadrack, Brendan Foley, Craig Skipp, George Watts-Sturrock, Luke Catchpole, Dan Wynne, Peter Hooks, Sam Bryant.

Diss subs: Jordan Rocastle (for Hooks 90+2 mins), Jon Abbott (for Watts-Sturrock 68 mins), Ally McAnally, Rafel Szalek and Xavier Huckle (for Wynne 74 mins).

Thetford team: Mark Bowden, Chris Collins-Reed, Ryan Haynes, Ashley Thompson, Christian Money, Gary Claydon, Danny Tanti, Sean O’Donnell, Simon Mann, Matt Dixon, Bruno Eavares.

Thetford subs: Arron Joseph (for Eavares at half time), Chris Walsh (for Tanti 77 mins), Luke Bailey (for Haynes 85 mins) and Jack Dennis.

Attendance: 104.

Match Sponsor: Michael Gooderham and Russell Harvey (both Diss Town F C Vice-Presidents) of S V Harvey and Son, Builder of Wreningham.