DISS TOWN RESERVES  2, WANDERERS RESERVES 0

RIDGEONS RESERVE LEAGUE CUP GROUP 1

TUESDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2005

Wanderers took on a strong Diss side, hoping to build on Saturday’s victory. A much changed line-up saw Paul Clow move into midfield and the return of Adam Burrows and Ricky Ward to the defence.

Early exchanges were even, with Wanderers competing for every ball and looking more determined than in all their previous games. There were few real chances created in a goal-less first half, with Diss being forced to shoot from distance. Ryan Owens showed good skill in the box to get free but shot wide , when a pass was perhaps a better option, and the same player shot narrowly over from the edge of the area. David Kenyon’s pace saw him beat the keeper to the ball at full stretch, but the loose ball fell kindly to a defender with the net unguarded.

Half – time : 0 – 0

After the interval, Wanderers continued to play good football, but were unlucky to fall behind to a fluke goal, when the ball bobbled over the blameless Stannard and into the net. The game turned on a refereeing decision minutes later, Dave Kenyon’s speed saw him leave the Diss back four for dead but the last man cynically scythed him down with what was almost a rugby tackle. Instead of the penalty and red card everyone expected (including all the home support) the punishment was a yellow card and a free-kick outside the area, with Wanderers losing Kenyon injured as well- a case of adding injury to insult. With Youngs joining Hayward and Kenyon on the injured list, the visitors were without 3 of their most influencial players (4 if you allow for Blain Burgess missing the match through injury). However, they still battled well and hit the post in a goalmouth scramble before Diss broke away to score a second.

Wanderers could count themselves unlucky not to take at least a point from this game and the performance augers well for the rest of the season. Adam Burrows would probably be my man of the match, with a fine display at centre-back, but all 14 players deserve credit, as do Dave Tournay-Godfrey and Pop Hodge.