NPL First Division East – 17 October 2023
A brace from Alex Hardwick saw Carlton Town move back into the play off positions with a 2-1 win against league leaders Belper Town at Stoke Lane.
The win was fully merited following an exhilarating Carlton display across the whole team in which they repeatedly opened up the Nailers and would have added to their total but for an outstanding display by visiting goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge.
Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey named an unchanged side from the team which had won at Ossett last time out. Belper featured popular ex-Miller Alex Troke who played such a pivotal role in Carlton’s escape from relegation last season.
This was Carlton’s first home match in the league since the August bank holiday and was the first in a series of four successive midweek fixtures as the Millers look to complete the games in hand occasioned by their runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy.
Belper came into the game with a 100% away record but it was Carlton who came out of the blocks quickest. Hardwick went close on just four minutes with a curling shot following a lovely pass from Khyle Sargent and just three minutes later the Millers were ahead. Alex Howes took a quick throw-in deep on the left wing to Lewis Durow. The full back’s cross wasn’t cleared by Mason Warren and Hardwick was on hand to rifle home from eight yards.
The Millers then poured forward and were first to every ball in midfield as Belper simply weren’t allowed to get going. Dean Freeman almost made it 2-0 shortly afterwards with a fine header from a Durow throw, only to be denied by the first of a number of fine saves from the Belper goalkeeper Hedge.
Carlton did double their lead on 25 minutes with a superb goal. Troke brought down Niall Davie in midfield for a free kick. In what was clearly a rehearsed routine, Freeman touched the ball to Davie who played it to Sargent on the edge of the box. He touched it first time to Hardwick whose first touch took him away from Danny South before he fired the ball past Hedge to the delight of the home support in the impressive crowd.
Belper had done very little up to this point but they went very close to scoring with their first attempt on the half hour. Cameron Johnson’s header from a corner drew a superb save from Felix Annan before Kevin Bastos’s follow up was diverted towards goal by South only to be cleared off the line by Liam Bateman. Two minutes later Belper claimed a penalty for handball against Bateman but the referee wasn’t interested.
Dan Brown and Freeman were having superb games in the middle and Brown did well to break up one Belper attack before Carlton came forward again. Lamin Manneh won the ball off Warren before advancing on goal and drawing another fine save from Hedge. From the resulting corner Hardwick saw his goalbound header cleared off the line by Warren on the post.
Three minutes into the second half Hardwick really should have had his hattrick. Bateman sent Manneh away on the left. He sped past Ben Rhodes before crossing to Hardwick who, with the goal at his mercy, fired wide of target.
Belper responded and Annan made another fine save from Johnson. The Nailers pulled one back on 58 minutes when South headed a long clearance from Hedge into the path of Johnson and he did well to steer the ball into the corner of the net. Minutes later Bastos hit an effort high over the bar and it looked as if Carlton were in for a long last half hour.
Instead, they took the game back to Belper with Sargent and Howes superb in the middle and Davie, Manneh and Niall Hylton always offering a threat. One excellent run from Davie sent Hardwick away on the right. His angled drive drew an excellent save from Hedge and Manneh’s follow up went wide.
Next it was Durow’s turn to create something as he sent Hylton away down the left. His cross was just intercepted by Hedge before Hardwick could tap home.
Still Carlton pushed forward and when Hardwick set up Howes, Hedge denied him with another top drawer save before Hardwick’s attempted cross to give Hylton an open goal was cleared.
Belper were on the ropes but at just a goal down they knew they had a chance and Brown had to be alert to snuff out another attack. But back came Carlton and this time it was Bateman’s turn to be denied as his shot was blocked.
Annan had to save again from Bastos before a move involving Sargent, Bateman and substitute David Adegbola led to Davie shooting just over.
Belper huffed and puffed in the final minutes but Carlton kept their shape, kept up the intensity and saw out the six minutes of added time to record an excellent win. They received a fully deserved ovation from their supporters at the final whistle.
Carlton Town: F Annan, L Bateman, L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, K Sargent, L Manneh (D Adegbola 80), N Davie, A Hardwick (R Nangle 80), A Howes (M Ford 88), N Hylton. Unused subs: S Thompson-Harris, Z Hill
Goals: A Hardwick 7, 25; Cameron Johnson 58
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Alex Hardwick
Att: 262
