A Jekyll and Hyde performance saw Carlton come away from the local derby with all three points after two goals at the death overturn what was seeming to be a defeat writes James Morton.
After a first half where Basford could have seen the game out of sight, saw them defend resiliently in the second half, but eventually Carlton forced home an equaliser through top scorer Daniel Gordon, and then he turned provider and minutes later Romaine Graham poked home a winner with the last kick of the game.
With the way the game started one could only predict a home win and even though Carlton did have the first chance as Romaine Graham hit a shot just wide of the target, you knew it was going to be a tough afternoon for the Millers.
With Basford going close moments later through Fabian Smith, who had a shot deflected wide of the target. Though the deadlock was broken with their next attack, as Ruben Wiggins-Thomas was played through one-on-one, Jack Steggles was able to prevent the shot, but the ball only went and fell straight to Blair Anderson who chipped the ball into the back of the net.
Carlton did muster up the occasional effort and came close when an Anthony Howell cross was met by the head of Romello Nangle, but went over the bar.
Basford then turned up the pressure, and came close through Boston United loanee Kyle Dixon, who blazed over the bar, then Stuart Hendrie moments later managed to cut inside from the by line, but Jack Steggles made a good save to deny them doubling the lead.
Wiggins-Thomas kept on hassling his former club, and proving how valuable he is at this level, when a shot from him beat Steggles and looked to go in the net, but rattled the crossbar instead, and bouncing clear to the relief of the Millers.
Although, before the break Carlton managed to create a couple of chances, firstly when Romaine Graham beat two players in the box, and then got the ball past the keeper, but Jake Wood got enough on it, to make sure the ball stayed out of the net and eventually cleared by the Basford defence. Then on the break of half time Nangle had an effort that went over the bar for a tight angle.
Whatever Wayne Scott said to his side at halftime, it definitely worked as second half Carlton came out the blocks sharply, and five minutes into the half created an opening as Howell played a free kick out wide to Niall Davie, who beat the full back, to then play the ball back to Josh Rae, but his shot went over the bar. Then Davie put in a dangerous corner that was shot over the bar by Josh Marshall.
Although, Basford did still have spells and Wiggins-Thomas was again able to beat the offside trap, but his shot beat Steggles and yet ended up rolling past the post and continued going for a throw in.
Though the Millers attack continued, and Nangle did well to beat his man, but Wood, rushing out, managed to block the strikers shot with his legs. Then Graham also managed to get the better of his marker, but his shot went agonisingly wide of the post after placing the ball beyond Wood.
It seemed as though a goal had to come, and again Howell did well to play it out wide to Nangle who whipped in a cross, but Rae was unable to keep his effort down, as it went over the bar.
Again Basford did create occasional chances as Billy Bennett must have expected his free kick to nestle in the back, but Steggles was able to clutch onto the ball.
Then the inclusion of Daniel Gordon changed to course of the match, when into stoppage time, a corner by Josh Rae ended up being headed back across goal, but with two shots already blocked, the ball fell to Gordon, who blasted the ball into the back of the net, and the big bad wolf of Carlton Town had finally blown down the Basford United defence to equalise.
Though Carlton were not going to settle for a point, and Gordon came running down the left flank before crossing the ball into the box, with Graham sticking out a leg, and clipping the ball into the back of the net, and sending the players, coaching staff and supporters of Carlton into delirium, winning it with the final kick of the game.
Basford United: Jake Wood, McNicholas, Bennett, Smith, Darkin, Meikle (C), Hendrie, Grayson, Wiggins-Thomas, Dixon, Anderson.
Subs: Duffy, Harrison, Grantham, Jack Wood, Myers.
Goal Scorers: Anderson 19.
Carlton Town: Steggles, Spencer, Fletcher, Walker, Graham, Marshall, Rae, Howell (C), Nangle (Gordon 81), Wholey (Newton 45), Davie.
Unused Subs: Gordon, Knight, Fizpatrick, Hill.
Goal Scorers: Gordon 90+3, Graham 90+5
Attendance: 209
Man of the Match: Josh Rae
