Diss Town manager Garth Good backs players to be in the play-off race come the end of the season

Garth Good is confident that his Diss Town squad has what it takes to last the pace in the race for the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North play-off places.

With a 13-point lead at the summit, Haverhill Rovers currently look a safe bet to be crowned champions and claim the one automatic promotion slot.

However, second-placed Harwich & Parkeston are just six points better off than Diss in fifth, with the nearest challengers to the Tangerines’ position being FC Peterborough, who are five points adrift with two games in hand.

Good is expecting there to be plenty of twists and turns along the way, but he has backed his side to be in contention come the end of the season.

“It would be amazing if we got into the play-offs,” said Good, who was appointed Diss boss in June 2023.

“Last season the target was to establish ourselves as a mid-table team and this year we wanted to be much closer to the play-offs.

“We have to be very happy with the season so far. If someone had said at the start of the season that at Christmas we’d be in the play-offs, of course we’d have taken that.

“Taking Haverhill out of it, there are probably seven or eight very good teams looking to get into the top five so there will be two or three that are disappointed at the end.

“Like every team looking for one of those places we’ll need to steer clear of injuries and suspensions – and get that little bit of luck you need as well.

“If we squeeze in then we’ll have done very well and that’s what we’ll be working hard to achieve. Every team will say the same thing, so we’ve just got to keep building.”

Diss’ play-off credentials are set to undergo a thorough examination tomorrow when they play host to third-placed Framlingham Town (3pm).

The Castlemen, who have suffered play-off heartache in each of the three previous campaigns, will arrive at Brewers Green Lane on a run of six straight victories.

And they will be seeking revenge after the reverse fixture was won 1-0 by Diss, with the Tangerines still the only away team to pick up maximum points at Badingham Road in 2024/25.

“Framlingham have probably deserved to go up over the last couple of seasons,” added Good.

“They’re a strong side and it’s going to be a big challenge for us. But make no mistake about it, we’ll go into it believing we can win the game.

“It’s not a game were panicked by but we’re also under no illusions that they’ll be thinking exactly the same thing as us – that they can win it.

“It should be an entertaining game between two good sides looking for three points.”

Diss, who drew 2-2 at Gorleston Reserves last weekend, will be without the suspended Kehan Whitby and Myron Abodunde this weekend.