Few teams will have suffered a more frustrating festive period than Thetford Town this year.

The Brecklanders have drawn their last three matches, having been on course for victory before conceding late on.

On Saturday it was local rivals Diss Town who became the latest team to snatch victory away from Mark Scott’s team, scoring their equaliser four minutes from full-time.

The bottom-of-the-table Tangerines went into the game on the back of three successive defeats and without a win under new manager Mark Reeve, formerly of Downham Town.

They remain at the foot of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division table going into the new year following a 3-3 draw but Thetford could easily have started 2015 in the top half of the table had they held onto their leads.

On December 13 the Brecklanders had led 3-0 at home against high-flying Newmarket with six minutes remaining, but managed to draw 3-3.

On December 20 they led 1-0 at Gorleston before conceding a late goal and on Saturday they were 3-1 ahead with 12 minutes remaining, before late goals again saw them draw.

It means Scott’s side are three matches unbeaten but had they held on to two of those victories they would be in the top half of the table, rather than in 14th place.

Thetford took the lead in the 17th minute at Brewers Green Lane when James Dean headed home from a corner

Diss equalised almost immediately when Danny Self played in Jacob Brown, who held off a challenging defender to slip the ball past Thetford keeper Scott Cruickshank to make it 1-1.

Dean then fired a well-struck shot into the roof of the net from eight yards to give home keeper Powley no chance as Thetford retook the lead before the half-time break.

In the 75th minute Thetford substitute Halen Smith was left with a simple side-foot finish from close range to give the Brecklanders a seemingly commanding 3-1 lead in the match.

However, in the 78th minute, Danny Self pulled a goal back for the Tangerines and with four minutes of normal time left, Ben Lewis managed to chest the ball away from Cruickshank and force the ball over the line.

Thetford return to Mundford Road on Friday night for a 7.45pm clash with second-from-bottom Ely City.