When was the last time the Diss Town faithful left Brewers Green Lane grinning like Cheshire Cats?
It's been a long time coming but the Tangerines finally turned in a convincing display, combining skill, effort and some well taken goals. It was new manager Jon Abbott's first game in the home dugout and his charges did not disappoint.
Right from the start Diss took the game to their opponents and in the 16th minute Josh Lucraft cut in from the right and unleased a shot that keeper Lewis Down could only parry and Kieran Hagan calmly slotted home from 18 yards. The Tangerines almost doubled their lead when a Stephen Vincent cross was met by Virgilio Leitao who brought a fine save from Lewis Down. From the resultant corner Hayden Pain's powerful header was cleared off the line.
It was one-way traffic and a second Diss goal came on 36 minutes when Vincent sent a raking cross that found Hagan, who calmly netted at the back post. Within five minutes Hagan had his hat-trick, this time courtesy of a delightfully weighted ball from the impressive Lucraft, Hagan scoring with a shot across the keeper.
Hagan was not finished and the pick of the bunch arrived just after the restart. Breaking down the right he bamboozled the visitors' defence with a series of stepovers and feints before cutting inside to unleash a peach of a shot into the far corner.
To cap a fine performance Lucraft then again turned provider as Diss got a fifth. After being fouled he took the free-kick himself with pinpoint accuracy to give Vincent an easy finish. This was a first class team display and with new blood coming in, including old favourite Charlie Webb, there is, finally, reason for optimism at Brewers Green Lane.
Diss Town: Barnes, Last, Tipple, Pain, White, Betson, Hagan, Vincent, Lucraft, Leitao, Beeston. Subs: Colclough, Whayman, Moore, Noguira, Conner.
n Diss bowed out of the Norfolk Senior Cup on Tuesday evening when they were hammered 6-0 by Dereham Town at Brewers Green Lane. The match between the Bostik League North side and their hosts from the second tier of the Thurlow Nunn League was a predictably one-sided affair, with Magpies' striker Joe Gatting scoring a hat-trick.
Ryan Crisp's long range drive was the visitors' first effort on goal in the 24th minute. Minutes later he turned in the box and beat home keeper Lewis Riches from 26 yards. The Magpies increased their lead in the 30th minute when Dion Frary headed home Danny Beaumont's free-kick and made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time when Gatting glanced home a free-kick.
Dereham made it four in the 50th minute, with Gatting firmly heading home, and Gatting notched his hat-trick in the 57th minute after good build-up play. An 85th minute own goal completed the scoring.
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