NPL First Division East
The result might have been even better had Nat Watson’s injury time screamer not crashed against the crossbar but the Millers will be pleased to have continued their unbeaten run in 2025. They are just two points outside the playoffs with five games remaining of the season.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made one enforced change to the side which had beaten Emley last time out, with Liam Bateman replacing the injured Charlie Carter.
On a blustery day on the banks of the Humber, Carlton got off to the perfect start with a goal from the penalty spot on the quarter hour mark. Bateman played a lovely ball to send Liam Moran into the area ahead of ex-Belper man Danny South. South brought down Moran but protested furiously that he had won the ball fairly in the tackle. He may have had a point. The referee wasn’t interested and captain Niall Davie confidently fired home via the inside of the post.
The goal spurred on the visitors, who were looking to extend a six match winning run, and the excellent Dean Freeman headed just over from a Lamin Manneh corner soon afterwards.
The Villagers have promotion ambitions of their own and they also looked dangerous going forward, with Manneh tracking back to make one fine block in the left back position and Felix Annan saving from the impressive Luke Hogg.
With the half drawing to a close Moran saw a shot well saved by Ben Bottomley in the Ferriby goal before the keeper then made the first of two crucial saves either side of half time which undoubtedly kept his side in the game.
The first of those came after Moran sent Ollie Clark through on goal on the left. Bottomley stood his ground and the Carlton man’s shot was well saved.
Immediately after the break a Manneh shot was deflected into the path of Lewis Durow, directly in front of goal. He tried to place his shot beyond Bottomley but the keeper made a tremendous stop to deny the Millers.
Ferriby were buoyed by the saves but the Millers midfield of Davie, Khyle Sargent, Clark and Watson were still on top. However, that changed on the hour when Ferriby’s Alex Flett scored direct from a corner with the strong wind no doubt helping and the referee not interested in Annan’s claims that he was impeded.
Ferriby went for the win and took control of the midfield. Only some tremendous defensive work, particularly from Freeman and Lawrence Gorman, kept the home side at bay in a spell of sustained pressure.
Carlton responded with a triple substitution with Niall Hylton, Alex Howes and Greg Tempest all joining the fray, soon followed by Michael Ford. The changes undoubtedly achieved the desired purpose from a Carlton perspective with the Ferriby attacks subsiding and Carlton looking to get a winner of their own.
Ford made one fine advance down the right before crossing to Moran only for the ball to be cleared before the Villagers launched a speedy counter attack after a Durow throw was cleared. Annan had to come a long way out of his area to deal with the danger and spent some time being treated after being fouled.
With the game in the final stages North Ferriby had a golden chance to win the game. A Flett corner was headed back across goal by Tom Corner to Josh Thacker who volleyed wide of target.
Diego Edwards was by now also on the pitch and he drew a comfortable save from Bottomley after being set up by Hylton.
With the game in the first of five added minutes the Millers went desperately close to snatching all three points. A long free kick into the area was headed clear by Corner but only as far as the lurking Watson who showed great control to take the ball down before hitting a piledriver that smashed against the crossbar with Bottomley beaten.
That was the final chance of the game with Carlton surviving one later Ferriby free kick to secure what could be a vey valuable point. They left the field to richly deserved applause from the healthy away contingent in the crowd.
Carlton Town: F Annan, L Bateman (M Ford 72), L Durow, L Gorman, D Freeman, N Watson, N Davie (N Hylton 66), K Sargent (G Tempest 66), L Moran), O Clark (A Howes 66), L Manneh (D Edwards 84).
Goals: N Davie 16 pen; Alex Flett 60
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: D Freeman
Att: 339
