Diss captain Lewis Taylor admits survival from Lacons Brewery Norfolk Cricket Alliance Division One will be a ‘tough ask’ as side prepares for visit of Great Melton

Diss captain Lewis Taylor remains ‘hopeful’ but acknowledges it will be a ‘tough ask’ for his side to survive the drop from Division One of the Lacons Brewery Norfolk Cricket Alliance tomorrow.

The Rectory Meadow outfit occupy the second relegation spot (ninth) ahead of their final fixture of the season – which will see them host eighth-placed Great Melton (11am), who are 20 points ahead of Diss.

The clash is brimming with permutations and Diss, who have lost six games on the bounce, know that a win against their relegation rivals would not guarantee their survival, as they will also have to limit their visitors to attaining four points or less.

Despite winning just one match in the second half of the season, Taylor says his side, which is fully fit for their final game of the campaign, head into the contest ‘optimistic’.

“To even be in a position where we if we win on Saturday we’ve got a chance of survival, it’s quite fortunate really,” he said.

“Confidence has probably taken a bit of a dent but we know this is very much a one-off game now with a chance to avoid relegation.

“We know it’s going to be a tough ask but we’re hopeful we can pull it off.”

Taylor admitted this term has been ‘disappointing’ following their sixth-placed finish last season. The cancellation of their match at seventh-placed Downham Stow II on Saturday added to their woes as they were robbed of the chance to have their fate in their own hands on the final day.

“It’s been quite a tough season for us really. We’ve probably not fought to the levels we would have wanted to,” he said.

“When we began the season we thought we would definitely be no worse than last year, so to find ourselves down in ninth with one game to go is disappointing.

“We’ve definitely lacked consistency, I would say. We’ve shown glimpses of what we can do but we’ve never really been able to put a full game together, certainly not in the past few games.

“It’s been disappointing but we’ve got to put that to one side now and focus on tomorrow, and hopefully we pull it off.”

At the other end of the Division One standings, Old Buckenham could wrap up promotion tomorrow at fourth-placed Lowestoft Town (12pm) after the visit of Thetford Town was cancelled on Saturday.

Old Bucks sit top of the table and 21 points clear of third-placed Sheringham, knowing a win would guarantee their place in the Premier Division next season.

Meanwhile, in the Premier Division, third-placed Garboldisham also saw their home match against Hethersett & Tas-Valley cancelled on Saturday due to the rain.

Philip King’s side travel to bottom-of-the-table Norwich tomorrow in the penultimate game of the campaign (12pm).