Joint manager Mark Sutcliffe looks ahead to Diss Town's Isuzu FA Vase first-round tie with Whittlesey Athletic

Mark Sutcliffe says Diss Town will not be taking Whittlesey Athletic lightly when they face off in the Isuzu FA Vase this weekend.

The two sides are separated by just goal difference in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North table, with Whittlesey one place higher than Diss in seventh.

It was the Tangerines who ran out 2-1 winners at Brewers Green Lane in both clubs’ season opener back in August, but ahead of visiting Whittlesey in their first-round clash in the Vase tomorrow (3pm), Sutcliffe does not put much emphasis on their last encounter in the league.

“The Vase is a great competition to be involved in,” the Diss joint manager said.

“There’s a lot of history there, certainly for Diss Town.

“It was great that we got into the next round (first round), which we haven’t done for seven years as a club.

“We won’t be taking Whittlesey lightly. Yes, we had a good result against them earlier in the season, but they will be there or thereabouts in the play-off positions.

“They’re going to be a tough opponent. We treat every game as it comes, but we’re looking forward to it.

“The occasion of the Vase is a great spectacle to be involved in. Hopefully we can go there and put in a good performance and get a win.”

For Diss, winners of the Vase in 1994, this will be a first appearance beyond the qualifying rounds for seven years, after knocking out higher-league Histon 7-6 on penalties at Brewers Green Lane last month.

Another victory for the Tangerines tomorrow would send them into the second round (last 128) of the Vase for the first time in a decade.

Since that shootout win over Histon, Diss have picked up seven points from four games in the First Division North, which included an eye-catching 2-1 win at home to Framlingham Town. A four-match unbeaten run in all competitions was snapped on Saturday with a 2-0 reverse, leaving Diss in eighth spot.

“The last few league games we’ve had some highs and lows,” Sutcliffe reflected.

“Saturday was pretty disappointing because we went to Downham with a lot of confidence we could get a point at least.

“They got a couple of decent goals in the first-half and managed the game better than us. We couldn’t break them down.

“The Framlingham game was about a reaction for us having lost heavily (6-1) to them earlier in the season. The focus was about the loss and how it felt that night.

“We came out 2-1 winners but I think we probably should have won 3-1 or 4-1, it was that good a performance from us.”

Midfielder Tom Baird misses this weekend’s trip to Whittlesey through suspension.