Report by Ben Marsh

Carlton made three changes from the weekend defeat at Dunston. Lawrence Gorman replaced Shea Thompson-Harris who was in action for Kimberley Miners Welfare as part of his dual registration. Ollie Clark and Niall Hylton started in place of Alex Howes and Lamin Manneh respectively who were both on the bench.

Under leaden skies and on a skiddy surface, the home side started well backed by raucous vocal support from the Shed End as supporters sheltered from the rain.  Nat Watson was unlucky not to open the scoring inside three minutes after a good move down the right involving Hylton and Clark. Watson found space outside the box and hammered a shot which rang the outside of Jordan Pierrepont’s right hand post as it fizzed past.  Clark then challenged the Colliery goal following a couple of Gorman corners. The midfielder’s first effort was cleared but from the second corner Clark saw his effort fly just over the bar.

The visitors had their first sight of goal just after 10 minutes.  From a long ball from the back, Gorman misjudged the flight and Robson Doolan was in behind but shot wide of Felix Annan’s goal. Sherwood grew into the game and adapted to the conditions quicker than their hosts and there followed a period of sustained possession and increasing territory gain, Ewan Robson particularly impressive showing composure on the ball and a good range of passing in the central midfield area.

It was the Millers though who, having managed the pressure, had the next chance. After Robson fouled Khyle Sargent, the resulting Watson free kick was headed goalwards by Dean Freeman but was cleared by Carter Widdowson. Freeman had another chance from the recycled possession but couldn’t find the target. As the game opened up, Carlton expected a flag but Charlie Clements beat the assistant referee’s line and ran for goal but Annan covered the angles well and saved but moments later, Sherwood Colliery captain Jamie York found space behind on the right flank and fired in the opening goal for the visitors.

The Carlton players grew increasingly frustrated with one another, the officials and life in general at this point and it took some 10 minutes before they could fashion another opportunity after a flurry of misplaced passes and chasing shadows.  From a Lewis Durow throw the ball bounced in the box and despite the rain the preceding dry weather allowed the ball to balloon off the surface and Clark did well to win the header only for his effort to hit the bar this time.  Davie was unable to mop up the rebound as it arrived to him at an awkward height he headed wide.

Carlton frustrations continued and Watson was shown a yellow for dissent.  From the free kick in the centre circle, Oliver Monington beat Liam Bateman in the Carlton right back position but his shot was once again saved by Annan.

As half time drew close, the visitors should have doubled their lead after a fine move in the centre of the field between Robson and York opened up the right side for Harry Bircumshaw but his low, rasping drive missed the far post by inches.

Carlton were way below their best and started the second half having clearly received a rocket at half time from the management.  The press was better and higher and more unified and within five minutes of the restart they nearly equalised.  A Durow throw was beautifully flicked on by Freeman and Clark saw his effort brilliantly saved by Pierrepont, Sargent from the rebound cannoned his shot off the bar.

Just a minute later and the equaliser did come. After a Davie cross from the right was half blocked to the edge of the penalty area, Clark swept home a magical volley as the goalkeeper was rooted to the spot.  No celebrations, back in formation and a clear sign that the home side wanted more.

Durow was next to go close after a lovely move involving Davie and Watson. Durow’s overlapping run on the left was well found but he fired over the bar. Watson again, allowed the roam, collected the ball on the halfway line and found Hylton in space on the left and his cross delivered into a dangerous area only as far as Davie who saw his shot hit one post but creep inside the other as Carlton hit the front.

Liam Moran who’d once again run himself into the ground and Hylton made way for Alex Howes and Lamin Manneh as Carlton looked to freshen things up.  Manneh supplied a good couple of corners which were well defended initially.  Watson picked up the pieces but his delivery was also dealt with but the pressure told halfway through the second period as Watson ran at the Colliery defence and took on Oliver Lobley in the left back position. The defender did well to stall the advance but Watson pounced on the loose ball and got in front of the defender whose challenge was clumsy at best and the referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Captain Davie stepped up and fired the ball low to the right of Pierrepont. That was Watson’s final involvement and he took the applause from the crowd for another excellent performance. Diego Edwards replaced him for the final fifteen minutes.

The Wood weren’t done though and pushed forward having made several changes themselves.  Substitute William Gillies saw his header saved by Annan in a rare attack but the same player tried his luck from range minutes later and was unlucky to see it miss the keeper’s right hand post.

Carlton put the game beyond doubt with five minutes left on the clock. In the best move of the game, the home side held the ball well, passed and probed and recycled the point of attack from left to right and after some real tenacious work from Howes to pressurise the Colliery defence by their own corner flag Davie delivered a beautiful cross into the six-yard box where Edwards nodded home. His first goal in his loan spell and his name was roared by the buoyant crowd behind the goal.

Manneh showed good energy too in an attempt to get himself a goal in the dying moments and, after an awkward save from the goalkeeper, the forward went for a header but Widdowson cleared with a high foot, conceding a corner and connecting with Manneh’s head but the referee was unmoved despite the baying from the supporters for another penalty.

Manneh was then unlucky with a header at the back post from the resulting corner and possibly should have scored but Colliery captain York took offence to something in the build-up and squared up to Manneh in a clear attempt to provoke a reaction. The two were separated but in a show of immaturity and petulance ill-befitting of someone in a captaincy role, York sought his own justice as soon as the final whistle blew as he lunged at Manneh, in full view of the crowd behind the goal and a melee ensued. York was rightly shown a red immediately and Manneh too was given his marching orders for his response to the assault.

The final throws of the game could not detract from an excellent second half performance and the fans joined the players in saluting their outgoing joint manager, Tommy Brookbanks, as the gaffer was hoisted above the heads of the players on the field to rapturous applause for a wonderful man who has given so much for the club.

Players and supporters alike then assembled at the Shed End for a photo to commemorate another memorable season.

Carlton Town: F Annan, L Bateman, L Durow, L Gorman, D Freeman, N Watson (D Edwards 79), N Hylton (L Manneh 63), K Sargent, L Moran (A Howes 63), O Clark, N Davie.  Unused subs: G Tempest, D Brown

Goals: O Clark 51, N Davie 58, 71 pen, D Edwards 84; Jamie York 20

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: N Davie

Att: 234