Depleted Dragons Ease Past Diss

After the disappointment of the Stanway game two Thursdays ago, Wivenhoe were desperate to get back to winning ways against Diss on a sunny afternoon at the Maple Tree Cars Stadium. With injuries and unavailabilities plaguing the squad, Wivenhoe we're left with 12 fully fit players with Adam Frost taking a place on the bench despite still suffering from an injury picked up against Stanway.

The first half was a very basic story. Plenty of opportunities for boys in blue, however the chances created we're not capitalised with a finish. Most notably when Evan Culmer evaded a tackle from the Diss right back, squaring the ball to Oliver O'Hare, he fluffed his lines and sent the ball high and wide.
The Diss outlet was always a threat the long ball from the goalkeeper sometimes evading the first of Wivenhoe's three central defenders, but covered by another. They too had a great opportunity before half time as a free kick conceded by Ben Fowler was parried by Liam Daniels, a Diss player reacted quickest only for his effort to be thwarted by Daniels again.

HT Wivenhoe 0-0 Diss

The second half started very much like the first ended. Wivenhoe getting the ball out wide to Jamie Baker and Evan Culmer, whilst Diss played direct football and always looked threatening. Wivenhoe had chances early on to take the lead, however, impressive defending once again stopped the deadlock being broken.
Diss to had an opportunity to take the lead as a back post header went agonisingly close, had his effort have crossed the goal line it would not have counted as he was in an offside position.
Wivenhoe's 12 fit players went down to 11 when Ryan Gooch was forced off with a reoccurrence of a shoulder injury after taking a throw in.
Wivenhoe did get a vital goal Evan Culmer once again beat the Diss back line and calmly finished into the far corner to make it 1-0.
The Diss bench mentioned that one goal would win the game before. Culmer's opener and that looked like it may be the case , as the game became quiet after that goal. A second goal did come, albeit in controversial circumstances. A Diss player made a bad tackle on Evan Culmer and at the same time a Diss player having breathing difficulty caused both dug outs to urge the play to be stopped, however the referee did not stop play and whilst most players had stopped Oliver O'Hare didn't as he lobbed the oncoming goalkeeper.
As Diss pushed for a way back into the game gaps appeared at the back. Evan Culmer, Jamie Baker and Joe Steel supporting Oliver O'Hare- all four a constant thorn in Diss' side. Oliver O'Hare capitalised on one of these gaps by finishing from a cross from wide.
In front of Ray Turner who scored a hatrick earlier in the day for the first team, Oliver O'Hare scored one of his own once again lobbing the oncoming goalkeeper.

FT Wivenhoe 4-0 Diss