Second-half recovery not enough as Diss lose at basement boys Wisbech St Mary
WISBECH ST MARY 4, DISS TOWN 3
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Division One North
If there is one consolation in lockdown for Diss Town, it might be that they will have nothing to do with north Cambridgeshire for at least a month.
For, one week after losing 2-0 at home to March Town, the Tangerines were the first team this season to be defeated by the Saints, who ply their trade just nine miles down the road from the Hares.
Wisbech St Mary had lost 11 games out of 11 going into this fixture, while Diss sat in eighth place, but it was the hosts that looked like the mid-table team in a one-sided first half in which Diss looked sluggish to say the least.
Harvey Neale fired St Mary into a ninth minute lead and the 18-year-old ran through a static Diss defence to make it 2-0 in the 23rd minute.
It got worse ten minutes later when a fantastic through ball by Edmilson Fernandes saw Ryan Lennon in plenty of space to fire home a third.
In between the second and third goal, Bryn Mullen – by far Diss' best player – saw a good effort saved, but in truth, the Saints missed a couple of good chances too.
It was Mullen who gave Diss a lifeline with a 25-yard wonder strike 10 minutes before the break, but 3-1 actually flattered a lethargic Diss team.
The Tangerines came out for the second half looking much more determined and nearly narrowed the deficit four minutes in, Mullen rounding home keeper Joe Tarris, only to see his goal-bound shot blocked by Saints player-manager Stuart Beckett.
The game then swung from end to end, Wisbech St Mary's Neale having a shot blocked on the line and Diss' James Bemrose forcing a great save from Tarris.
But, with 26 minutes left, Bemrose did score, rounding Tarris and slotting home with aplomb.
The visitors then laid siege on the home goal as they looked for an equaliser, but it was Saints who scored next, captain David Weaver-Pope going on a great run before slotting in Lennon, who squared for ex-Norwich City Academy player Neale to slam in for his hat trick.
As the game entered injury time, Adam Race headed home a third Diss goal from a corner and his side threw everything at St Mary during four minutes of injury time, but ultimately returned to Norfolk with a deserved defeat.
DISS: Nicolle, Peek, Race, Wilson, French, Hutchinson, Cawcutt, Taunton, Bemrose, Maloney (Woodhouse 74 mins), Mullen. Sub (not used): Ali.
