Report by Ben Marsh
A second half Lamin Manneh goal was enough to secure the points in a bruising encounter.
Carlton made one change from the win against Heaton Stannington with Ollie Clark, on his 100th appearance for the Millers, replacing Liam Moran up front with Moran, nursing a knock, dropping to the bench.
With the wind at their backs in glorious spring sunshine Carlton were uncharacteristically slow out of the blocks. A scrappy opening ten minutes in which the ball spent as much time high in the air as it did on the ground was broken with a Ferriby attack as Lewis Dennison made good ground down the flank but his shot was well blocked by Dan Brown.
As the Villagers began to dominate the territory, Felix Annan was called into action in the Carlton goal from a Sam Aynseley free kick. The Carlton stopper smartly down to his right. The battle was really in midfield with Khyle Sargent and Nat Watson more than holding their own and whilst Clark was doing a fine job of winning knock ons, the runners were rarely close enough to him in these opening exchanges to fashion any openings.
Charlie Carter, again deployed at right back, was second best in an aerial battle and the referee awarded another free kick to Ferriby on the edge of the box. The excellent Alex Flett took the kick but Annan showed quick feet to scamper across his goal and gather. Flett again on the set piece with a corner from the Ferriby left, put it into a dangerous area but there wasn’t a maroon shirt on hand to prod home as the ball flashed across the face.
So halfway through the half and little to show for the home side except yellow cards for Manneh and Niall Hylton. However, in a beautiful move on the inside left channel, Carlton found an opening. Sargent won possession and fed Watson who played it forward to Clark who returned the pass. Watson cushioned a delightful ball to find a great run in behind from Lewis Durow. The left back could only fire at Ben Bottomley in the visitors’ goal. Bottomley to his credit launched a quick counter but Watson’s recovery run, typical of his fantastic work rate all game intercepted and quashed the attack.
Carlton were forced into a change on the half hour mark as Dan Brown was unable to continue having received a knock earlier. Lawrence Gorman was his able replacement alongside Dean Freeman who was having a great game himself dealing with the barrage of high balls. Freeman’s chief antagonist, North Ferriby’s Tom Corner, was denied as the game approached half time. His smart turn and strike was only bettered by another diving save from Annan.
Durow then produced the moment of the first half for Carlton with a fantastic solo run down the left, beating three or four defenders on his way. He was finally thwarted by Niall Tilsley who, alongside former Basford man Dom Roma was having a solid game in the Ferriby backline. Only four teams had conceded fewer than the Villagers and it was clear to see why. In the final action of the half a long Durow throw was expertly flicked on to Manneh by Hylton but Manneh was caught in two minds and the neither went for goal or found a team mate.
If Carlton’s first half start was sluggish, the second half was the exact opposite. The Millers came crashing out of the blocks and won a free kick within a couple of minutes. Watson delivered and from the knock down, Gorman (more than capable of the extraordinary strike), fired for goal but was off target. Clark then did well to hold off his marker and release captain Niall Davie down the right. His cross was well held by Bottomley but the fans behind the goal roared at the new found endeavour of their side. Not to be outdone the North Ferriby supporters started hammering on a drum at the other end.
So much good work coming from Davie in the second half. The skipper leading from the front and winning a corner he had no right to. Bottomley though, again, strong and confident under the high ball claimed well. Davie again involved as he intercepted a crossfield pass and set Manneh away. The visitors keeper again equal to the threat as he blocked the shot.
Always dangerous on the break, the Villagers were in behind moments later as the game opened up. Aynsley down the left was stopped by Durow which the referee deemed a yellow card offence. Another save from Annan from the Flett free kick.
Manneh was again put through after good work from Watson and Sargent but Roma showed all his experience and defended the danger expertly. North Ferriby attacked down their right as the hour mark approached and Durow was deemed to have handled the ball. The Ferriby players were calling for a penalty but the referee and linesman spotted the ball on the edge of the box and nothing came from the free kick.
Carlton went up the other end and after a clearance from a throw, Durow collected the ball on the Carlton right and supplied a great cross which Watson did well to get on the end of but his header was smothered by the keeper but a minute later, the deadlock was broken. A long ball from Sargent left a straight fight between Manneh and Roma. This time however, the Millers man outmuscled his opponent and cooly fired past the onrushing Bottomley to the delight of himself and the crowd behind the goal.
Both teams rang the changes with Alex Howes and Liam Moran replacing Hylton and Clark respectively for the home side. As the clock ticked down Carlton were sitting further and further back, clearly aware of recent late equalisers they had conceded but Moran and Howes did link up brilliantly on the break to release Manneh but Tilsley recovered superbly to block the strike.
Into added on time and still time for drama. Ferriby piled on the pressure and a bouncing ball on the edge of the Millers box was latched on to by Luke Hogg his shot was deflected but still, Felix Annan, already diving to his left, had the presence of mind to flick out a foot and save the day. Sargent backed up his keeper with a salmon like leap to clear the ball to safety as the time ran out. The Millers players and supporters celebrated in style at the finals whistle, with popular website Proper Football in attendance to capture it all.
Carlton Town: F Annan, C Carter, , L Durow, D Brown (L Gorman 30), D Freeman, N Watson, N Hylton (A Howes 62), K Sargent, O Clark (L Moran 84), N Davie, L Manneh. Unused Subs: Diego Edwards, Liam Bateman
Goals: L Manneh 66
