Town ready for long-awaited derby

The feeling among those connected with Harleston Town is that tomorrow’s derby clash at Diss Town has been a long time coming (3pm).

For many a year, Diss battled towards the top end of the Eastern Counties Premier Division, won Norfolk Senior Cups, and famously lifted the FA Vase at Wembley in 1994, while Harleston were forced to look on enviously, yo-yoing their way through the Anglian Combination leagues.

Indeed, as late as the 2008/09 campaign, Harleston were a Step 11 outfit, but tomorrow the neighbouring sides will be equals.

In fact, the visitors will be favourites to win the Brewers Green Lane encounter, having made a blistering start to life in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North.

Nine wins from 11 have seen them open up a five-point lead at the summit, while in stark contrast the hosting Tangerines languish third from bottom with 10 points from a possible 27.

And Harleston manager Adam Gusterson has called on his in-form players to ensure the people who have been waiting such a long time for this fixture are able to make the 12-mile trip back down the A143 with broad grins on their faces.

“It is a big game for the area, and for us as a club it is a first real opportunity to put in a performance that says we are better than them right now,” he said.

“We have not had the chance to go toe-to-toe with them in the league, so that makes it exciting.

“They are a big club, one that when I was playing were right up in the Premier Division.

“Because of that, it means a lot to the people at our club, and I want the lads to put in a performance befitting the occasion.

“There are some people that have been waiting such a long time for this game and they deserve to see us win it.

“To be fair to our lads, they buy into that sort of thing. They will want to win it not just for themselves, but for the people at the club.

“We have been playing with real confidence and more of the same will give us a real chance.”