Diss Town suffer heavy defeat to higher-league Dereham Town in the quarter-finals of the Norfolk Senior Cup

The nature of the majority of Dereham Town’s six unanswered goals on Tuesday evening irked Jon Abbott, but the new Diss Town boss was adamant that it should not detract from the positive start to his reign.

The Tangerines headed into the Norfolk Senior Cup quarter-final tie against their higher-league visitors on the back of three straight victories, two of which had come under Abbott’s stewardship.

And they also opened up well against the Bostik League North Division Magpies, only for all of their early hard work to unravel as soon as Ryan Crisp handed his side a 25th-minute lead.

Dereham – managed by ex-Harleston Town boss Adam Gusterson – scored twice more before the break to put the match to bed, with a further three goals coming after the restart, making it tough viewing for the hardy Diss souls that had braved the freezing conditions at Brewers Green Lane.

Three of those goals came from unmarked headers, while another trickled over the line late on off a Diss defender, all of which left Abbott feeling frustrated.

“We knew tonight was going to be tough but I am disappointed in the scoreline and the way we conceded the goals,” he said.

“We are frustrated because we felt that up until their first goal we matched them. We had our shape and they probably did not have a shot on target up until then.

“We then gave them a goal and it felt like we gave them another two straight after that. The goals that we conceded, at least three or four of them we have gifted to them. The ball has gone into our box too often and we have not dealt with it.

“Do I think they are six goals better than us? No, but they were tonight because we gave them too many goals.”

Nevertheless, despite missing out on a first semi-final appearance since 2014/15, Abbott insisted it should not have a telling impact on the task in hand – moving Diss further away from the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North relegation zone.

The 1994 FA Vase winners were languishing in and around the bottom two upon Abbott’s arrival, but Saturday’s resounding 5-0 home win over Haverhill Borough has moved them eight points clear of danger.

“If you had said to us when we came in we would win two out of the first three, the two we would have wanted to win were the league matches because that is our priority,” added the boss.

“Everyone is disappointed tonight but we have to look at the bigger picture. We have taken six points from six in the league and we now have to concentrate on moving ourselves up the table, which is ultimately what we want to do.

“The players can be disappointed and frustrated with tonight – I want them to be, but it is important they remember what they have done over the previous two matches and the performances they have put in.

“We will be fine, there is no way we will not compete in our league and move up the table, as long as we defend a bit better than we did tonight.”

Fresh from scoring four of Diss’ five goals at the weekend, Kieran Hagan was lively during the opening exchanges and after firing one attempt over he tested Dereham goalkeeper Elliot Pride with a low shot from the edge of the box in the 13th minute.

Despite there being 35 places between the sides in the non-league structure Diss continued to look comfortable, but that all changed once Crisp’s driven shot from 18 yards out got the better of goalkeeper Lewis Riches, who stuck out a leg to no avail.

Within four minutes the visitors had doubled their advantage after Dion Frary was given the freedom of the Diss penalty area to power in a header from Daniel Beaumont’s inswinging free-kick.

There was almost a moment of embarrassment for Pride up the other end two minutes later when his attempted throw out skidded back towards his own goal, but he made up the ground just in time to make amends.

And with their composure restored, Dereham added a third goal on the stroke of half-time. Beaumont was also the architect on this occasion as he crossed from the left into the six-yard box, where Joe Gatting was waiting to glance in a header.

The physical number nine also wasted little time in completing his hat-trick after the restart as his 50th-minute header was swiftly followed eight minutes later by a routine volley from close range.

Crisp then struck the base of the post with his left-wing cross before Gatting spurned the chance for his fourth goal of the evening when he volleyed Rhys Logan’s delivery straight at Riches when it looked easier to score.

Dereham’s sixth of the night eventually came in the 84th minute when Crisp’s cross caused confusion before deflecting in off defender Hayden Pain.

Diss: Riches, Colclough (Nogueira 70), Last (White 65), Betson, Collins-Reed, Pain, Moore (Webb 55), Vincent, Leitao, Hagan, Beeston

* Diss are without a fixture this weekend, with their return to action scheduled for February 2 at Needham Market Reserves.

The Marketmen’s second string are currently bottom of the First Division North having picked up just one victory so far this season.