NPL First Division East – 9 April 2024
Carlton Town’s playoff challenge suffered a setback as they were beaten 3-1 at home by title-chasing Hebburn Town.
Hebburn became the first team this season to do the double over the Millers and although Carlton battled throughout, and could feel aggrieved about a couple of decisions that didn’t go their way, there could be no complaints about the final score. The Hornets looked a class act and will take Stockton and Dunston to the wire as the North East sides fight it out for the championship.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made two changes to the side which had beaten Ashington last time out. In came Mamadou Sylla-Diallo and Niall Hylton for Dean Freeman (injured) and Greg Tempest (unavailable). Khyle Sargent dropped into Freeman’s defensive position.
Once again the Millers were grateful to the sterling work of groundsman Kris and a number of volunteers from the supporters club for making sure the pitch was playable after yet more heavy overnight rain.
But it was Hebburn who took the early advantage with a goal after just six minutes. Liam Noble’s excellent free kick crashed against the crossbar but the loose ball fell kindly for Amar Purewal who converted from close range.
The Hornets were buoyed by the goal and had Carlton pinned back in their own half for the first half hour, with a series of dangerous crosses. Dan Brown cleared one effort off the line and Felix Annan palmed another dangerous delivery away from goal.
Oliver Martin brought down a lofted crossfield ball superbly and cut inside Lewis Durow who slipped. But with the goal at his mercy, albeit from a tight angle, Martin blazed high over the bar.
Carlton’s first real attack of the game saw Durow play the ball up to Nat Watson. He played a lovely ball to Lamin Manneh who advanced on goal before being crudely brought down by Joe Walton. Carlton claimed a penalty and that Walton was the last man, but the referee denied them on both counts, awarding a free kick just outside the area and showing Walton just a yellow card.
The Millers though were suddenly on the front foot and when Durow played the ball into Sargent he crossed into the danger area before being taken out by a late Purewal challenge. It looked a stonewall penalty but again the referee waved away the appeals.
Seconds later Watson went down in the area and, when his claim was denied, he earned a yellow card for his protests.
Annan had to be alert to make a decent save from Robbie Spence while the impressive Hylton just failed to convert a Manneh cross after a fine ball by Niall Davie.
The Hornets should have extended their lead in first half added time when Annan failed to hold a free kick but the keeper made a wonderful save from the follow-up shot to keep Carlton in the game.
And the Millers looked set to take advantage of that when they equalised nine minutes into the second half. A corner from Manneh was headed past Kieran Hunter into the net. It looked as if it had come off Matt Elsdon but Nat Watson was awarded the goal.
Moments later, with Hebburn on the rack, Davie lifted a shot over the bar. But the Hornets have not put themselves in with a shout of the title by wilting under pressure and they were back ahead just four minutes after the equaliser when Purewal fired home after some clever interplay with Noble.
Four minutes after that it was effectively game over when Spence headed home from a corner.
Carlton kept pushing and Sargent fired over the top but Hebburn missed a great chance to extend their lead when Alfa Djalo shot wide when clean through.
Durow headed a Davie corner just wide and then saw a late volley really well saved by Hunter after a cross from substitute Micah Jebbison.
With the game in added time it was all Carlton pressure but Hebburn had worked their socks off all night to protect their lead and were not going to be denied.
Hunter saved twice from Jebbison and Alex Hardwick just failed to get on the end of a Manneh header after a cross from Hylton. The final effort saw David Adegbola lift a shot over the bar but Hebburn survived the seven added minutes to claim the win.
Carlton Town: F Annan, D Adegbola, L Durow, D Brown, K Sargent, M Sylla-Diallo (A Hardwick 72), L Manneh, A Howes, N Watson (M Jebbison 72), N Davie, N Hylton. Unused subs: P Dearle, M Ford, L Gorman
Goals: N Watson 54; Amar Purewal 6, 58, Robbie Spence 62
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Niall Hylton
Att: 121
