Woodbridge Town hit eight in 11-goal game to remember against battling Diss Town

Woodbridge's Liam Scopes rises above everyone to clear against Diss. Photo: PAUL LEECH (Image: Paul Leech)

Notcutts Park witnessed an absolute goal fest as league leaders Woodbridge eventually came out 8-3 winners against a game Diss outfit who were unable to cope with the home side’s swift and incisive passing football, writes Dave Meeson.

It was the Tangerines who started the better and former Coplestonians striker Virgilio Leitao poked the ball through to Stephen Vincent who opened the scoring for Diss with a low angled drive on three minutes.

The Woodpeckers then began to get their game together and equalised five minutes later when Mark Ray left two defenders for dead before crossing to Matt MacKenzie who converted from close range.

Almost immediately Diss shot themselves in the foot as their debutant full back Mark Plunkett presented the ball to Ray who slid his effort home to put the hosts ahead.

Mark Ray slots home for his hat-trick for Woodbridge. Photo: PAUL LEECH (Image: Paul Leech)

After a quiet half hour the game was reignited just on half-time as Mackenzie drove into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

Straight from the restart Woodbridge made it four as George Bowman’s cross was converted at the back post by Ray.

The outstanding Kelsey Trotter then set up Callum Sinclair who drilled home a deflected 20-yarder for the fifth.

Woodbridge were dealt a blow when skipper Liam Scopes limped off. This was compounded when the substitution was delayed as replacement Joe Langfield took time getting on the pitch and Leitao took advantage with a fine finish with Woodbridge temporarily down to ten.

'Peckers' Taylor Southgate climbs highest. Photo: PAUL LEECH (Image: Paul Leech)

Ray completed his hat-trick on 64 minutes as he raced on to Mackenzie’s pass to beat the offside trap and round the ‘keeper for his 17th goal of the season.

Trotter then made it 7-2 on 78 minutes as he outpaced the Diss rearguard before another clinical finish.

Diss then had their best spell of the game and Charlie Lamb was upended in the box by Jake Green in the last minute of normal time. However home keeper Alfie Stronge produced a brilliant stop from Lewis Cooke’s penalty.

Plunkett then made it 7-3 after bulldozing his way through the home defence and in the next attack Vincent nearly pulled another one back but he was denied by the woodwork. There was still time for Trotter to go clear again and complete the scoring with the 11th goal of an afternoon to remember.