NPL First Division East – 30 January 2024
Carlton missed the chance to move into the playoffs as Liversedge took all three points at Stoke Lane. Liam Hardy gave the visitors an early lead before Alex Hardwick equalised for Carlton. Goals from Eddie Church and Jack Carr went unanswered despite the home side playing against 10 men for the whole of the second half.
Carlton made just two changes from the side that secured a point at Stocksbridge last weekend. Peter Dearle came in to partner Dan Brown at centre half for Dean Freeman who wasn’t involved and Micah Jebbison got his first start in place of Niall Davie who dropped to the bench.
Liversedge, winners of the league just two short seasons ago, came into the fixture in a bit of a slump. Second bottom in the form table taking just four points from the last six games, they were looking for a response to the 1-0 loss last time out at home to Pontefract and progression up the table from fifteen position.
It was a brisk night down the Lane and a fast start was needed. Carlton started brightly and Micah Jebbison, on his first start for Carlton, showed early endeavours down the left supplying a good cross which was just beyond Adegbola. In response and in just the fourth minute the visitors took the lead after good work on the left by Jack Carr found Liam Hardy in acres of space on the inside right position and a well taken lob over the onrushing Liburd-Hines saw the wing man celebrating with his teammates.
Undeterred, the Millers took control and Tempest, who was involved in everything on the night, was using his passing to switch the point of attack and pick out the willing runs of Hardwick, Howes, Jebbison and Adegbola. Adegbola in particular was causing plenty of problems for Jeremie Milambo on the Liversedge left side, the two having a running battle throughout the first half. The first real glimpse of goal came on the tenth minute. Hardwick running down the left was found by Tempest and the frontman supplied a dangerous cross just out of reach of Jebbison and Adegbola. The two combined to recover the ball and win a corner. Tempest’s corner was half cleared to Sargent who’s shot was blocked by the multitude of Liversedge defenders in the box. Liversedge threatened periodically throughout the half. Carr and Hardy the outlets down the wing but overwhelmingly Carlton were on top.
Tempest, on throw in duty too, launched a delivery into the box and after a huge scuffle the ball broke to Sargent again on the edge of the box. His up and under resulted on Hardwick’s shot being well blocked again as the visitors continued their good defensive work.
As Liversedge attacks continued to get swallow up by the home side, Howes found space in the centre circle and released Jebbison who’s shot was straight at Jordan Porter. Soon after in a lovely flowing move, Tempest won the ball in midfield and set Hardwick away. Howes was in support on the right and received the ball in the box, he sought to return to Hardwick who was unmarked in front of goal but the pass was intercepted out for a corner which was wasted. Hylton, deployed at left back, made a barnstorming run from deep and was dumped to the ground on the edge of the box. The referee, in one of a number of decisions throughout the game which had both teams scratching their heads, gave nothing. He couldn’t though ignore the foul on Hardwick immediately afterwards and duly gave the free kick. This though was a missed opportunity as Tempest smashed into the wall.
Liversedge then went close after a great move. In a game long battle, Joe Walton won this exchange with Dan Brown and the tall frontman was through on goal. His shot was well blocked by Dearle but only to the onrushing Eddie Church. With the goal at his mercy he fired wide.
Stirred into a response once again, Carlton finally equalised. Tempest, ever the instigator, set Adegbola away who in turn got the better of Milambo and crossed beautifully for Hardwick to tap in from 5 yards. Something to warm the hardy supporters behind the goal. Within moments it could’ve been another goal as Carlton swarmed forward. Jebbison, again running free down the right this time, crossed well but with no yellow and blue support in the box the ball ran to Howes on the left. He beat his man despite being grappled and crossed to Hardwick again for the tap in. The whistle cut short celebrations however as the referee pulled the play back for the initial foul on the edge of the box. Advantage should have surely been played and Carlton were robbed of what would’ve been a certain goal.
Milambo showed a good turn of pace and advanced into the Carlton half and saw his goal bound shot easily smothered by the busy Liburd-Hines. As the keeper shaped to distribute early Liam Hardy blocked him off. The referee was on the scene and a second yellow was the result. The goal scorer given his marching orders. Despite the man disadvantage it was Liversedge who regained the lead on the stroke of half-time. Church began and finished a good passing move with the impressive Carr, who’s left sided cross found Church with the freedom of the Carlton six yard area. He slotted home past Liburd-Hines who was quickly off his line but unable to get a block in.
Any thoughts that the visitors would rest on their lead and try to see out the second half were rapidly extinguished as another swift attack in the early second half exchanges saw the dangerous and ever willing runner, Church collect the ball on the inside right position and inexplicably make his way past two Carlton defenders to shoot on goal. Liburd-Hines made a smart save.
Increasingly though Liversedge were pinned back. Hylton operating more and more as a left winger than a left back made a fabulous run down the wing, hitting the byline and crossing but no one had made the attacking run into the box to finish what would’ve been a simple goal. Ebanks too was enjoying more time in advanced positions and his cross into the box found Hardwick this time but the frontman was crowded out and the chance was gone.
Proving dangerous on the counter, Liversedge drew a foul from Brown on the edge of the box. Milambo’s strike was on target but comfortably dealt with by the Carlton stopper. Back up the other end and Hylton and Jebbison combined well down the left and crafted the best chance of the game for Howes. Six yards out, dead centre and unmarked, the Carlton man skied his effort way over. Perhaps a bobble off the pitch but a golden chance to equalise nonetheless. Hylton was involved once more as Hardwick found the left back running through the middle this time. The pass was slightly over hit which forced Hylton onto his weaker right foot and away from goal. Porter was tested but held onto the strike. More chances followed and patience was the key here. Adegbola, who had another good game, made way for Niall Davie. Tempest, the curly haired conductor in centre field, really showed his value and class at this level with a wide range of passing, excellent vision and swiftness of thought which continually provided opportunities for his wide men to cause Liversedge problems. From his latest laser guided delivery, Hardwick did well to hold off his man and power a shot at Porter who was equal to the challenge and parried over the bar. From the resulting corner, played flat and low by Tempest, the keeper missed the ball at the near post and despite four or five Carlton players being inside the six yard area the frantic actions of an equal number of Liversedge defenders denied the Millers the final prod over the line. The ball hacked gleefully away to the dismay of the faithful behind the goal. That was Tempest’s final act but he left the field to warm applause from the crowd. Michael Ford was his replacement and his energy was immediate. It was however a clumsy foul which he conceded on a breakaway George Proctor which allowed Liversedge another free kick opportunity. This time on the edge of the box inside left. Carr stepped up and produced a glorious strike of postage stamp perfection into the top left corner to extend the visitor’s lead. Few keepers would have got to a strike of that quality and precision.
Wounded, the home side advanced forward again. Jebbison, on the right now, supplied a good ball into Hylton, again in space in the box. His strike again, straight at Porter who gathered. Liversedge though were resolute in defence, well organised and marshalled superbly by Jack Stockdill and Joe Skarz. They stayed compact in the middle and despite Carlton stringing together some fine passing moves in tight areas in and around the box, they were reduced to half chances at best in the remaining minutes. Musa Jawarra replaced Ryan Ebanks for the last ten minutes as Carlton went all out attack and the formation became a bit of a mystery. Dan Brown was uncharacteristically caught in possession when the last man by the relentless Joe Walton and the Liversedge frontman bore down on goal but somehow fired wide. Proctor was then through on another breakaway but only found the base of the post as the game fizzled out.
Carlton will doubtless be frustrated at the game in hindsight. A tightening up at the back and a sharpening up in the shooting department are absolute musts before the next stern test in the league as February looks to be a pivotal month in the race to the playoffs. Step 4 safety all but assured the Millers will learn from this game and inevitably improve.
Carlton are back on the road at the weekend with the short trip to playoff rivals Belper Town.
Carlton Town: N Liburd-Hines, R Ebanks (M Jawarra 82’), P Dearle, D Brown, N Hylton, D Adegbola(N Davie 65’), G Tempest (M Ford 74’), K Sargent, M Jebbison, A Howes, A Hardwick
Unused Subs: Z Hill, L Gorman-Stewart
Goals: A Hardwick 31’; L Hardy 4’, E Church 45’, J Carr 76’
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: G Tempest
Att: 116
