Diss Town beaten by lower-league Mundford in controversial Norfolk Senior Cup clash
Diss Town missed out on a place in the quarter-finals of this season’s Norfolk Senior Cup in controversial circumstances on Tuesday evening.
They were beaten 2-1 at home by lower-league Mundford in a tie that saw late drama with penalty appeals being waved away and a goal chalked off.
Despite being without the suspended trio of Alex McIntosh, David Shade and Charlie Webb, the hosting Tangerines created the better of the chances during the first half.
Ryan Fuller went close in the 19th minute with a shot that cannoned against the crossbar, while visiting goalkeeper Will Viner did well to deny both Ryan Swift and Angus Mackie from distance.
As the opening 45 minutes drew to a close Viner pulled off one more smart stop – this time reaching up to tip Swift’s effort on to the crossbar.
Mundford – of the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Premier Division – grew as an attacking force after the restart and both of their goals came courtesy of former Diss players.
The first of those arrived in the 69th minute when Bruno Tavares took a pass in his stride and sent a low shot into the corner of the net.
After having one call for a penalty rejected, the referee did point to the spot for Diss in the 84th minute after Swift had gone down under a challenge from Nathan Rose. Fuller stepped up to convert from 12 yards and restore parity.
Then came the controversy, with Diss believing they had won the contest in the first minute of stoppage time.
Fuller’s header from inside the box looped in, but the referee disallowed the goal for a foul on Mundford goalkeeper Viner.
And to add insult to injury, two minutes later Diss were adamant Matt Cook had been fouled, but Mundford were allowed to continue with a move that was finished off by Ian Fancett to send his side through to a last-eight date with Step 4 outfit Dereham Town.
Jon Abbott’s Diss will look to put their cup disappointment behind them on Saturday when they host 13th-placed Great Yarmouth Town in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North (3pm).
The hosts, who sit sixth, have won their last two league outings.
Diss: MacRae, Hitch, Matthews, Aldis, Cook, Taylor, Whitby, Mackie, Fuller, Baughurst, Swift. Attendance: 139