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Friday 28 March 2014

Diss End Winless Run - Diss Town vs. Woodbridge Town

It was bright and breezy in Norfolk
This week I was so confident in the weather that I booked my ticket almost a weekend in advance. The ticket I booked was from London to Diss for Diss Town versus Woodbridge Town in The Eastern Counties Premier Division. This match was the first home game since Diss had appointed Mike Derbyshire as permanent manager and he was hoping to end a run of fourteen games without a run. The visitors were not faring much better this season and found themselves bottom of the league. Both sides therefore needed a win to pull away from the bottom of the table.

Kick Off At Brewer Green Lane
As both sides are keen for the win, the game has a bit of a cagey scrappy start. Once the game settles down, it Diss who begin to create most of the chances and they put a long range effort in to the hedge behind the goal. They then almost create a decent one on one chance but the ball is just too heavy and the keeper is able to claim the ball. The keeper then has to palm away another long range before Diss make their spell of pressure pay. The Diss forward is played in and he rounds the keeper before slotting home from a very tight angle. This sparks Woodbridge in to life as the Diss keeper has to be alert to punch away a dangerous free kick. The keeper is helpless from the next ball in to the box as Woodbridge gain a headed equaliser. They come close to taking the lead just before half time but the volleyed effort is straight at the keeper. Diss have an even better chance but another good chance is easily saved. 

A Diss Town attack breaks down in the first half
Diss Town win a fortunate free kick at the start of the second half but it comes to nothing. As with the start of the first half it is very scrappy in the opening stages. Woodbridge Town have the first meaningful attack of the half as the winger gets to the byline but the ball in to the box is poor. It is then Diss' turn to break in to the box but the defender makes a good challenge and the ball goes out for a corner. It is from another that Diss retake the lead. The Diss player is allowed a free header in the box and he makes no mistake. Diss make it three one while I am checking the Scunthorpe score in the clubhouse. Woodbridge try to get back in to the game and they have a couple of half chances. In the final stages Woodbridge are reduced to ten men and Diss see out the rest of the game for their first win in fourteen.

The Diss players celebrate taking the lead.
As with many towns in this area of the country, Diss is a pleasant market town which is worth an explore before a game. Trains to Diss depart from Liverpool Street and the journey takes just over ninety minutes. Before the game I had a drink next to the mere at The Waterside and watched the first half of the Chelsea vs. Arsenal at The Greyhound. The ground is about a half hour walk from the station. The clubhouse does the job and had the usual selection of drinks. I defiantly recommend trying one of the hot dogs which are sourced from a local butcher. On the way back through town I popped in to The White Horse which was probably my favourite that I visited.


A very good full colour programme was produced for the match. There was a lot of interesting reading and it even included the attendances for the reserve matches which is a serious level of detail! 

Covered accommodation opposite the main stand

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