Halstead Town are just two wins away from promotion after securing a valuable 2-1 win over Diss Town at Rosemary Lane.

Town remain a point behind Debenham LC, who occupy the third and final promotion spot in division one.

However, they have a game in hand and victory over Ipswich Wanderers tomorrow night would take them back into the promotion places, ahead of the final weekend of the season.

Manager Jody Brown said: “It was well-deserved.

“They got a goal with the last kick of the game and we were disappointed to concede but it was a solid performance.

“We controlled the game without dominating it and the result was never really in doubt.

“It was a case of us making the breakthrough after we came in at half-time at 0-0 and we had to try not to force things too much and be patient.

“Diss gave a good account of themselves and they were still pushing for a goal in injury-time.”

Both Halstead keeper Ed Wooten and his Diss counterpart Matt Hill played a vital part in the proceedings, pulling off a string of vital saves.

Several other good opportunities went to waste and respective defences had to pull out all the stops, to keep danger at bay.

Chris Bryan wasted a fine chance when firing wide after beating Jim Wilson, while at the other end, Wooten was in the right place to deny Dan Partridge.

Play swung from end to end in the first half and Halstead came a whisker away from scoring after an almighty scramble in the visitors’ goalmouth, Wooten did well to save at Soanes’ feet just before the break and Diss had a great chance from the restart when Dan Partridge broke clear.

But a timely Danny Rowell challenge saw the striker fire high over.

Halstead hit back immediately with Jimmy Pirie rattling the Diss crossbar, before Hill pulled off a magnificent save to deny Steve Daly’s header.

Lee Townrow then fired woefully wide with only Hill to beat, after being freed by Bryan.

Halstead’s pressure finally paid off on the hour when Ray Turner headed home Bryan’s corner to put the home side ahead.

And ten minutes later, Pirie’s cross was handled in the box by James Wilson and Bryan slammed home from the spot, to put his side two up.

Boss Brown used all three of his substitutions late on in a bid to kill the game off.

And although Ben Soanes pulled a goal back in the closing stages for the visitors, it was too little, too late for Diss.