It was, perhaps, predictable as Hadleigh's home form has not been the best this season, while Diss have, in recent weeks, strung together a series of away successes.

Both teams came into Saturday's game with a chance of promotion. Victory for Hadleigh would have ensured a return to the premier division after an absence of 11 years.

Diss needed a win at the Millfield and other results to go their way. They got the first, but Whitton's defeat of Godmanchester Rovers saw them take the third promotion spot.

Hadleigh did little in the first half-hour that looked menacing, handing the initiative to a Diss side prepared to take the game to their hosts.

And when Diss scored twice in six minutes late in the half, it looked as if Hadleigh's promotion hopes were going to run out early.

Instead, they were galvanised into action, pulling a goal back before the interval and coming desperately close to getting a second before the break.

Those who had earlier been wanting for the interval to come to allow Hadleigh a breathing space to regroup, now didn't want the half-time whistle to interrupt the flow.

But Hadleigh shrugged off the break and simply picked up the pace again in the second half, pushing Diss back in the opening minutes without really carving anything out.

They needed an early goal in the second half, but it wouldn't come. An equaliser always looked possible, although Diss occasionally broke with menace, but the longer the game went on the less likely it seemed Hadleigh would score the two goals they needed.

The game took a little time to come alive, with Diss enjoying the majority of possession, but failing to create chances for want of a good final ball.

Luke Whitwell had to go full-length to turn a low shot from Catchpole round the post in the 27th minute, the first real threat on goal.

Three minutes later Diss were in front after Hadleigh lost possession and conceded a free kick. Cussons drove the ball in, and the unfortunate Mark Porter headed it just inside Whitwell's left-hand post.

Patrick Fleming's free kick in the 33rd minute just needed a touch, but the ball ran inches wide of the far post, before Diss went further ahead.

Leggett headed the second in the 36th minute after a corner had been flicked on.

Deacon then shot just over after his initial shot had been blocked as Hadleigh were briefly reeling.

But in the 43rd minute Hadleigh put together an incisive move, Chris Dennett breaking down the left and crossing for Chris Smith to volley in.

Smith netted again a minute later, but had fouled an opponent. Craig Payne saw two shots blocked, and Dennett's chip was cleared from under the bar by Best as Hadleigh turned the screw.

They kept up the pressure in the second half, but didn't carve an opening until the 57th minute when the unmarked Payne mishit his shot from Dennett's cross. It was a clear chance.

Diss got back into the game, and were content to hold Hadleigh at bay.