Ben Deacon, Steve Best and Luke Catchpole put the game beyond the home side with three first half goals.

Danny McKail netted late on in the second half to complete the scoring.

The game got off to the perfect start for Diss when Partridge crossed to the far post where Alan North was waiting and pulled the ball back across the face of the goal where Deacon spun and fired home from eight yards to open the scoring after three minutes.

With the home side shell shocked, Diss took full advantage of the Cornard uncertainty. After exchanging passes with Deacon from a corner, Ed Cussons crossed to the back post for Steve Best to power home a header.

The hosts found it difficult to get out of their own half for the first 45 minutes and North should have increased the Diss lead after Deacons teasing cross was chested down but he could only volley over the crossbar.

At the end of the first period, Catchpole scored the best goal of the day and possibly a candidate for goal of the season. His determination saw him win a tackle just inside the home side's half and with only one thing on his mind, he unleashed a stunning shot which gave Cornard keeper Darren Moyes no chance.

The second half was a totally different affair and with only 54 seconds gone Town conceded.

A defence splitting pass by Richie Meadows picked out the surging run of Jason Carter who slipped the ball under Town keeper Ben Nower to reduce the arrears.

With Cornard in the ascendancy and looking a threat. Ryan Lions' long range effort was taken at the second attempt by Nower after the ball nearly squirmed free.

Minutes later, Richie Meadows chanced his arm with a low drive from the right side of the area, which was well saved by the Diss keeper.

Danny McKail's introduction for Andy Moody nearly paid dividends straight away when his sortie into the box gave Deacon the chance to prise open the Cornard defence but McKail's first time shot was well saved by Moyes.

Nower's quick throw out for Danny Jones allowed the fresh legged substitute to run at the Cornard rearguard and send over a looping cross, which fell Deacon to volleyed just over the bar.

Skipper Catchpole set up the final act of the day, when a superb chip over an ailing defence to McKail saw him gently lift the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Diss Town: Nower, Shadrack, Cussons, Soanes, Best, Wilson, Moody (McKail 61), Catchpole, Deacon, Partridge (Jones 80), North (Hayes 67).