Gorleston 5 Diss 1

Gorleston’s hospitality to their former manager Richard Daniels and three former players lasted just 13 minutes as they bounced back from the disappointment of the unbeaten run ending at Wivenhoe last week.

Manager Stewart Larter made just one change to the side that had lost at Wivenhoe with Liam Harvey-Cooper replacing Gary Williams who dropped to the bench.

Ex-boss Richard Daniels Diss side showed former Greens captain Eddie Thompson in defence and Peter Lambert up front, whilst Thomas Daniels had to be content with a place on the bench.

Diss had the better of the opening five minutes although it was Gorleston who came closest to scoring when Christy Finch was put through, lifted the ball over the advancing Matt Webster in the Tangerines goal, but saw his effort rebound back off the bar.

After eight minutes Diss took the lead – from a Gorleston corner. The Greens played it short but a Diss interception allowed them to clear the ball, leaving the Gorleston defenders in their opponent’s box.

David Hinton’s attempted backpass fell short and Lambert pounced to slot the ball past Elliot Pride, writes DAVE HARDY. Two minutes later Diss could have extended their lead when a free kick was met by the lively Claudio Langlios at the back post but he scuffed his effort wide.

The Greens began to find their feet and equalised in the thirteenth minute. Harvey-Cooper crossed from the right to where Finch had found himself space to sidefoot into the net for his nineteenth goal of the season.

Four minutes later Gorleston took the lead. Reece Hunn took his time to pick out David Hinton with a pass, as he went into the box. Hinton’s square ball across goal beat the keeper and was turned into his own net by Aaron Taylor.

Andy Howell saw a free header superbly saved by Webster two minutes after that as the Greens began to dominate. Webster denied Ally McKenna after 27 minutes then, ten minutes later McKenna’s deft chip beat Webster but was headed off the line by a covering defender.

From the corner Finch hit a swivelling volley at the back post but Webster again had scampered across goal to kick the ball away from inside the post. A handball appeal against Diss was waved away by the referee and there were no more goals in the first half.

Five minutes into the second half Gorleston gave themselves some breathing space.

Hough played McKenna in on the left and he pulled the ball back from the byline. Finch dummied it leaving substitute Jack Garrod to sidefoot it home.

Langlios hit a weak shot on the turn straight at Pride before, on the hour, the Greens extended their lead.

Eddie Thompson had dominated his aerial battle with McKenna, but it was McKenna’s sharpness in the area that gave him his goal.

Garrod played the ball out wide to Finch whose cross found McKenna nipping in at the near post and he flicked it in from close range.

Midway through the half the scoring was complete. Superb control and turn by Hough on the left wing left his marker trailing. He drove into the box, cut inside and drilled his shot into the net.

Gorleston relaxed now and were finding it easy to knock the ball around although, by taking their foot off the pedal, they did allow Diss more possession.

Finch came close to extending the lead with a trademark free kick and then Chris Sandford saw a close range effort saved low by Webster in the last minute. This was an excellent performance from the Greens and the fifth time this season they have hit five goals or more in a game and they remain in fifth place. They are also currently the highest scorers in the league this season.

n Gorleston travel to Haverhill Rovers tomorrow. Haverhill are currently in mid-table but have only gained five points from the last 21. However, Gorleston will be the fifth team out of the current top six that Rovers have faced in their last eight games.

Gorleston: Elliot Pride, Jack Marsden, Reece Hunn (Joe Marsden 70), David Hinton (Gary Williams 75), Andy Howell, Josh Armes, Liam Harvey-Cooper (Jack Garrod 45), Chris Sandford, Ally McKenna, Christy Finch, Bradley Hough

Goals: Finch 13, OG 17, Garrod 50, McKenna 60, Hough 67

Diss Town: Matt Webster, Mark Shadrack, Stuart Garner, Michael Steward, Aaron Taylor, Eddie Thompson, Louis Cutajar (Sam Pledger 63), Ashley Skeggs (Armando Alves 55), Peter Lambert (Daniel Eastlea 60), Claudio Langlios, Adam Burroughs

Goal: Lambert 8. Attendance: 134