Gorleston 2, Diss Town 1
By James Hernandez
Liam Harvey-Cooper stepped off the bench to put a smile back on the face of his manager Richard Daniels.
The Gorleston chief was left devastated after seeing his side surrender a two-goal lead against Wroxham in a 3-2 defeat at the weekend.
But super-sub Harvey-Cooper helped Gorleston to a comeback win of their own as they came from behind to beat Diss Town.
The Greens had been trailing by front-man James Pipe’s ninth goal of the season before Harvey-Cooper equalised in the 68th minute - and then notched the winner with two minutes remaining.
Daniels kept faith with the side that came so close to a league double over the Yachtsmen, but his team failed to match the high energy levels from that game.
With 20 minutes played the visitors took advantage of a lethargic Gorleston as Pipe finished well from inside the area after poor defending from Adam Thurtle.
Gorleston, enjoying plenty of possession, had their first effort on goal five minutes later as Andrew Howell towered a header narrowly over the crossbar.
As the half-time whistle loomed Greens captain Eddie Thompson went close when coming in unmarked at the back post, but he seemed too conscious of avoiding a collision with the woodwork.
Playmaker Jamie Godbold was introduced to the fray shortly after the break and gave the hosts added impetus. As first Mitch Forbes and then Howell headed corners over the bar that were just begging to be put away from the on-loan Lowestoft Town midfielder.
The ultra defensive Tangerines were finally caught out with 22 minutes to play as Harvey-Cooper latched on to Reece Hunn’s pull-back on the edge of the area to fire home a terrific first-time shot.
It was backs-to-the-wall defending from the Tangerines as Rob Taylor’s men looked to go home with a point at least.
But Greens hero Harvey-Cooper had other ideas as he coolly slotted past Matt Webster in the Diss goal from Forbes’ low-cross to seal the points.
Gorleston: Whatmough, Daniels (Williams), Hunn, Cockrill (Harvey-Cooper), Thurtle, Thompson, Sandford (Godbold), Howell, McKenna, Forbes,Taylor
Goals: Harvey-Cooper 68, 88
Bookings: Daniels 57
Diss Town: Webster, King, Garner, Gilding, Foley, Shadrack, Bryant, Brien, Pipe (Moody), Bryant (Cole), Speller (Easlea).
Goal: Pipe 20
Att: 117
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