FA Trophy First Round Qualifying – 9 September 2023
A brace from debutant Alex Hardwick helped Carlton Town to an emphatic 5-1 win at Coleshill Town in the FA Trophy.
The scoreline gave a slightly misleading impression of the game as there were passages of both halves when Coleshill were on top. But the key differences between the teams were at the business ends of the pitch.
During Coleshill’s spells of pressure, and in particular in the first half after they had taken the lead, the Carlton defence rose to the challenge and in general terms were too strong for the Coleshill attackers. At the other end, when the Millers imposed themselves on the home side, they exposed gaps at the back and were ruthless in front of goal. In truth, they could have had another couple of goals to add to the five they scored.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made two changes to the side which had won at Nuneaton Borough in the FA Cup last time out. Lamin Manneh was injured and so Hardwick, signed just two days earlier from Maltby Main, came into the side. Niall Davie also made his first start of the season and so Shea Thompson-Harris dropped to the bench with David Adegbola moving to right back.
On a very hot afternoon the Millers started on the front foot and were in complete control in the opening 15 minutes. In just the second minute a Davie cross from the right missed Nial Hylton at the back post by inches, before Lewis Durow headed a Greg Tempest corner just over the bar.
Tempest then fed the impressive Alex Howes who created a chance for Davie but his effort was just wide.
Coleshill are currently eighth in the First Division Midlands of the NPL and so it was a little surprising that it took them some time to get going but when they did they opened the scoring with a fabulous goal. A move down the right involving four or five players saw the Colemen simply pass their way through the Carlton defence with Theo Rowe applying the finishing touch, steering the ball beyond a helpless Felix Annan.
Minutes later George Washbourne forced his way through the Carlton defence and poked a shot just wide of the far post. Coleshill then broke quickly after Hardwick was caught in possession and only a fine tackle by Dan Brown on Zaqib Hussain prevented another Coleshill chance.
Carlton’s equaliser, six minutes before half time, came out of nothing. Tempest found Howes in midfield and he played a lovely pass with the outside of his foot to send Hardwick into the area on the right hand side. There was still plenty for the striker to do but he outpaced Taylor Carter-Byrne and got to the ball ahead of Harry Higginson before rifling a fierce drive into the roof of the net beating Paul Hathaway at his near post.
Four minutes later Hardwick put Carlton ahead heading home a Davie cross after a fine initial ball from Durow. The home side responded and Carter-Byrne shot just wide of the post but it was now the Millers back on top. There was a significant amount of first half added time due to a drinks break because of the heat and in the sixth minute of that time Hylton and Howes combined to set up a chance for Davie but the covering defender cleared. Adegbola and Hardwick then got the ball back to Davie and his shot was just wide.
The Millers extended their lead with the last action of the first half when Khyle Sargent headed home a Tempest corner. A Coleshill defender did clear the ball but the linesman signalled that it had crossed the line.
Coleshill regained the initiative in the early stages of the second half and Annan made a superb save from Oscar Tongue before Washbourne put the rebound over the bar from a good position.
The home side continued to push forward but Dean Freeman and Brown dealt with the threat down the middle. Brown and Sargent both made telling interceptions to ensure Carlton maintained their grip on the game.
The Millers then, as they had in the first half, imposed themselves on their opponents and by 63 minutes the game was effectively over when Carlton added a fourth goal. Tempest played a lovely free kick from the right to the back post where Durow met it with a cushioned volley to beat Hathaway.
Annan still had to be alert as he saved from Alex Tomkinson but Carlton always looked like they might score more and with 11 minutes remaining substitute Romello Nangle ran onto a fine Howes pass, outpaced the defence and slotted home before celebrating with the ecstatic travelling support.
There was still time for Howes to fire just wide and Adegbola go close before the referee signalled the end of proceedings. The Carlton team came across to receive merited applause from the 30 or so raucous visiting fans who had made the trip and who had already risen to the challenge of a new song for the new striker. The Millers will meet Chasetown at home in the next round.
Carlton Town: F Annan, D Adegbola, L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, G Tempest (M Ford 70), N Davie (R Nangle 58), K Sargent, A Hardwick, A Howes, N Hylton (S Thompson-Harris 46). Unused subs: N Liburd-Hines, Z Hill
Goals: A Hardwick 39, 43, K Sargent 45+8, L Durow 63, R Nangle 79; Theo Rowe 19
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Alex Hardwick
Att: 110
