A last gasp goal from Lamin Manneh in the second minute of added time saw Carlton Town knock higher ranked Stamford out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Stoke Lane.
It was no more than the Millers deserved after an impressive display, particularly in the second half, against a side who came into the game top of their league and unbeaten this campaign. But Carlton worked incredibly hard, restricted the Danield to just a couple of opportunities, and but for some good saves from visiting goalkeeper Thomas Jackson, would have won the tie by a greater margin. As it is, the victory meant Carlton knocked out step 3 opposition for the second consecutive season in this round.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made two enforced changes from the side which had lost at Garforth last time out. Nat Watson was suspended and Jack Newall not permitted to be cup-tied by Burton Albion. Into the side came Shea Thompson-Harris, for his first start of the season, and Niall Hylton.Â
There was the welcome return of Lawrence Gorman on the bench.
Stamford’s squad contained no less than four former Carlton players with Charlie Marzano starting and Oliver Clark, Billy Bennet and Connor Bartle all on the bench. Former manager Wayne Scott was also present in his role as part of the Stamford coaching staff.
The Daniels suffered an early blow when the influential Dale Vince had to leave the field due to injury on just seven minutes, with Clark his replacement.
The first half was a tight affair with Stamford playing into a strong headwind but enjoying the majority of possession. Carlton, with Manneh playing up front as a lone striker, allowed Stamford no time on the ball with Michael Ford, back in midfield following Thompson-Harris’s return, and Alex Howes both having fine games alongside the ever-reliable Khyle Sargent and Hylton.
Indeed, the first real chance of the game came just after the half hour mark when Hylton’s shot was well saved by Jackson following an excellent run and cross by Manneh.
“As the game progressed Stamford made a flurry of substitutions to try and regain some measure of control but it was Carlton who looked the more likely to score. “
Stamford started to push Carlton back as the half progressed and Dean Freeman and Dan Brown at the back had plenty of involvement repelling Stamford advances, with Thompson-Harris and Durow doing likewise on the flanks. But what chances there were were falling to the home side with Howes seeing a shot blocked after a lovely Hylton pass.
Thompson-Harris made a superb last-ditch clearance to deny what looked a certain goal from Rob Morgan before Tom Siddons lifted a close-range effort over the bar following a Lee Shaw cross. Stamford claimed a penalty deep into first half added time when Tobias Liversidge was pulled back by Durow following a fine Clark pass, but the linesman and referee deemed the challenge to have been outside the box and the free kick came to nothing.
Stamford had a chance early in the second half when Clark fired over but after that Carlton seized control of the game. A fine move involving Howes, Niall Davie, Hylton led to a Manneh shot which was saved by Jackson. Shortly afterwards Manneh ghosted past Joe Burgess and fired at goal only to be denied again by Jackson.
The work-rate across the pitch from the Millers was terrific and there was no evidence of any difference in levels between the teams. On 65 minutes Carlton thought they had made the breakthrough. A Durow throw was flicked on by Freeman and Howes stabbed the ball home, only to be denied by an offside flag.
As the game progressed Stamford made a flurry of substitutions to try and regain some measure of control but it was Carlton who looked the more likely to score. Howes saw another effort fly over and a couple of Carlton crosses went behind the goal from good positions. Davie then played a lovely ball into the path of Ford, but his attempts to get a shot away were well defended by Stamford.
The visitors had a couple of chances to snatch the tie in the final three minutes of normal time but Jack Duffy hit a shot over the bar and Sargent was on hand to block a shot from Jon Challinor.
With the game into the second of four added minutes and a replay looking the likely outcome Carlton snatched a dramatic late winner. Davie won a header in midfield and the ball was well-shielded by Hylton who flicked a pass into the path of Manneh. He darted forward, held off Jordon Cooke and William Glennon and fired past Jackson to spark ecstatic scenes on the Carlton bench and amongst the home fans.
The Millers had to survive another five minutes, which included one Stamford corner, but some intelligent play by Neo Saunders and Hylton towards the end ensured that the Daniels ran out of time and Carlton celebrated an excellent victory with their jubilant supporters.
Carlton Town: F Annan, S Thompson-Harris, L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman (L Gorman 87), K Sargent, N Hylton, M Ford, N Davie (N Saunders 90+4), A Howes, L Manneh. Unused subs: Z Hill, J Gilbert, L Richardson
Goals: Lamin Manneh 90+2
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOM – Lamin Manneh
Attendance: 190