FA Cup Second Round Qualifying – 16 September 2023

Carlton Town’s FA Cup run ended with a narrow 3-2 defeat away against National League North Rushall Olympic.

The Millers ran the Pics close, hitting the post when the scores were level and, in the second half in particular, performing at a level that belied the two-step difference between the teams.  But at the same time Rushall had dominated the first half and could have been out of sight at half time. So whilst there could be no complaints at the final outcome, the Millers could feel justifiably proud of their efforts this season in the world’s oldest and most famous cup competition.

Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey made one change to the side which had won at Coleshill last time out with Shea Thompson-Harris returning for Niall Davie who dropped to the bench.  That meant David Adegbola started in midfield, with Thompson-Harris playing at right back.

Carlton’s last trip to Rushall had been a 2-1 NPL First Division South defeat in December 2010, and the ground had undergone some changes befitting their promotions since then, including the installation of an artificial pitch which levelled the previous slope, but the friendly welcome of days past was still present.

One thing that wasn’t welcome, according to the referee, was Carlton’s blue and yellow kit.  The perceived colour clash with Rushall’s old gold meant a quick dash to Tamworth for coach Darron Gee and the acquisition of the Lambs’ sky blue shirts for the day.

Carlton began reasonably well but within 10 minutes Rushall had established a level of control that was to last for the first 45 minutes.  Daniel Waldron fired just over after some good work from Jake Gosling and Walsall loanee Ronan Maher before a header from captain Kristian Green drew a decent save from Felix Annan.

Another header from Green went just wide at the Pics stretched the Millers with some quick pass and move football and it was no great surprise when they opened the scoring on 19 minutes.  The Pics sped up field after Carlton claimed a free kick when the goalkeeper appeared to pick up a back pass.  A couple of passes sent Waldron clean through on goal and his finish was clinical.

The Pics kept coming forward and Maher fired just wide before a goal was disallowed following some pushing at a corner.  Another goal was disallowed for offside and Maher hit another effort just over the bar as Carlton, thanks to some great defensive efforts with Lewis Durow, Dan Brown, Dean Freeman and Thompson-Harris all overworked, managed to hang on to just a single goal deficit at half time.  The assertiveness of their displays this season had been absent in the first half and whether that was due to Rushall or due to some apprehension on behalf of the Millers was only likely to be answered after the restart.

The big talking point at the break would be whether the Millers would actually come out and try and impose themselves on their opponents and turn up for this tie.  That is exactly what they did and an early run from substitute Niall Davie led to a corner with a Niall Hylton effort going just wide.

Carlton levelled the tie on 54 minutes with some fabulous play allied to a touch of fortune.  Adegbola picked up the ball on the edge of the Carlton penalty area following a Rushall corner.  He darted forward down the right, ran 60 yards before sending over a deep cross-come-shot which sailed over goalkeeper Jacob Weaver and into the net, sending the impressive Millers following behind the goal into raptures.

The goal rattled the home side and Carlton pushed forward immediately after the restart with Davie playing a lovely pass to Alex Howes on the left.  He advanced to the edge of the area before hitting a shot that beat Weaver but agonisingly hit the post and went wide.

The Pics regained their composure and Brown cleared one effort off the line before breaking up another attack with a great challenge and Annan made an excellent save from Gosling.

Carlton kept looking to get forward and Alex Hardwick saw a shot blocked before the impressive Khyle Sargent fired high over the bar.

The Pics regained the lead on 74 minutes when Brown’s clever clearance was picked up by Samuel Mantom and he rifled home.  Three minutes later it seemed as if it was game over when Maher dispossessed Adegbola and sent Waldron clean through and he made no mistake, firing past Annan.

Annan had to make a good stop from Gosling but Carlton had clearly not given up on the tie.  Freeman headed a Davie corner back across goal to Howes whose goalbound header drew a fine save from Weaver before Romello Nangle hit an overhead kick over the bar after another Davie run and Howes header.

Rushall should have scored a fourth deep into added time when Callum Coyle ran clean though but he fired wide of target and still Carlton came back at the Pics.  Freeman saw Weaver tip his header over the bar from point-blank range before Brown, in his 138^th game for the Millers, scored his first ever goal, heading home Davie’s corner in the sixth minute of added time.

Carlton had two more minutes to try and force a replay but they were unable to do so as the referee ended the game.  The Millers players received deserved applause from the 50 or so Carlton supporters in the crowd.  It was a fine second half display that could have led to an even longer run in this competition, but the squad can be proud of their efforts this campaign.

Carlton Town: F Annan, S Thompson-Harris (N Davie 46), L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, G Tempest (M Ford 78), D Adegbola, K Sargent, A Hardwick, A Howes, N Hylton (R Nangle 78). Unused subs: N Liburd-Hines, Z Hill, M Jawarra, L Sisawo-Danso

Goals: D Adegbola 54, D Brown 90+6; Daniel Waldron 19, 77, Samuel Mantom 74

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: David Adegbola

Att: 315