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Match Report: Carlton Town 3 – 0 Ossett Utd.

Carlton Town cruised to a 3-0 victory and tightened their grip on a playoff spot against Ossett United.

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NPL First Division East – 16 April 2024

Alex Howes’ second half strike and first half goals from Lamin Manneh and Nat Watson secured the points for the Millers.

Carlton were unchanged from the side that brought back three points from Newton Aycliffe last time out.  Ten days ago, Ossett were on the cusp of the relegation places following the loss to Grantham but a hard fought 1-0 victory at home to North Ferriby at the weekend, complete with a spectacular goal from top scorer Alex Peterson, had given them a bit of breathing space and increased hopes of survival.

Once more, both sides were indebted to ground staff and volunteers who had worked hard to ensure the playing surface was ok as the rains had fallen over the weekend.

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Both sides had so much riding on positive outcomes and it showed as the game exploded into life from the opening blast of the referee’s whistle. Carlton nearly scored in the first minute with measured approach play through Lewis Durow, Watson, Niall Hylton and Howes culminating in Manneh’s smart shot saved by Callum Hiddleston in the Ossett goal.  Watson’s elaborate overhead kick fired over from the rebound.

Within moments and the visitors were in behind the Carlton defence and only a superb save from Felix Annan prevented Sam Tingle from opening the scoring, the ball deflected out for a corner via the crossbar.

The breathless half continued with the feel of a cup tie and from the corner kick, Alex Peterson’s header from point blank range was missed to Annan’s right hand post. Straight up the other end and Manneh was bearing down on the Ossett goal and twisted Adam Watson inside out before trying his luck. A deflection squirrelled the ball beyond the reach of Hiddleston and Carlton were in front after just four minutes.

No stranger to rains in recent weeks but it was chances on goal that were raining down at the Bill Stokeld.  Howes, playing in a deeper role alongside Greg Tempest, played an excellent ball to Manneh, marauding down the left again. He cut infield and played a pass to Watson on the edge of the box. Watson made an excellent connection but fired the strike straight at Hiddleston.

Carlton continued to exert pressure and from a Durow long throw, Khyle Sargent produced a loopy header which almost dropped in. The attempt cannoned off the bar with the keeper beaten and only a superb interception by Paddy Miller snaffled the ball away from Manneh who was denied a tap in.

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Not to be outdone, Ossett came back and a cross into the Carlton box was allowed to bounce. As chaos ensued, Peterson managed a shot on target but Annan smuggled the ball behind. Moments later, another long ball from deep bounced in the Carlton box right in front of Annan as the Millers stopper was caught in two minds. Peterson again the man closest but he couldn’t get the vital touch and Felix swatted away. More alarm bells in the home side’s box as Harry Coates headed wide from a corner when it seemed easier to score.

An even game then midway through the half but the scales tipped towards Carlton as a glorious move down the right involving Watson and Hylton doubled the advantage. Watson collected the ball wide out and played the pass to Hylton inside right on the edge of the box. The Millers wide man held off his defender and effectively dummied the ball. Watson showed presence of mind to continue his run, picked up the ball, dropped his shoulder to round the final defender and lashed the ball past Hiddleston.

Now going for the jugular, Carlton swarmed forward. The excellent Tempest won the ball in centre field and released Durow down the left. The left back’s cross fell between Niall Davie and Watson with defenders nearby. Davie laid off to Hylton on the edge of the box whose first time pass to Howes in an inside right position wrong-footed the onrushing defenders. Howes picked his spot and were it not for a brilliant block by Miller it would have been three. The rebound fell to Howes and he tried his luck again to the keeper’s left this time only to narrowly miss the target.

The referee had allowed the game to flow but had to book defender Watson for an agricultural hack on Manneh. In a well worked free kick, Davie supplied a great cross to Hylton attacking from the far post to the near. He was in front of his man but a poor connection meant the ball was cleared downfield instead of nestled in the onion bag.  Another foul on Manneh and another good position for a free kick. Twenty five yards out, left of centre, this one had the attentions of Watson and Davie. It was the skipper who went for goal and drew another wonderful save from the impressive Hiddleston.

In the final moments of a frantic half, Ossett won a free kick of their own wide on the right in the attacking third. Dangerously arrowed in by Miller, Annan batted it away as the whistle drew the half to a close.

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With half time scores going against the visitors in the battle for survival, many were expecting a response but it was Carlton who started the brighter with Davie needing no invitation to run at the retreating Ossett back line. He was caught and floored however and took the free kick himself. Manneh rose highest but was again denied by the upright with Hiddleston scrabbling.

Ossett did respond though and David Adegbola was caught the wrong side of a good run from Derry Robson and booked as much for kicking the ball away as the foul itself. The free kick was in an advanced position but a poor delivery from Jacob McLoughlin was not what the visitors needed.

There was a little more possession now for Ossett but it didn’t amount to much and the Millers defence seemed comfortable. A long clearance from the Carlton defensive third landed with Hiddleston who played the ball out to Coates. As a unit, Howes, Manneh and Hylton pounced and squeezed the defenders on the ball and a loose pass was extracted by Howes who was through. He exchanged a glorious one two with Hylton who screened the last man and back heeled his return to Howes who was composed as he ran through and slotted past Hiddleston.

Almost instantly Ossett should have registered. Adam Priestley breaking the offside trap but inexplicably lifted his shot over Annan and the bar.

Just after the hour mark and Carlton made three swift changes. Lawrence Stewart-Gorman replaced Adegbola at right back. Mamadoh Sylla-Diallo came on for Howes and Davie was given a rest in place of the returning Jevon Seaton, the striker signed on dual registration before deadline day from Radford.  It was almost the dream second debut for Seaton as Manneh away down the right, got to the byline and crossed to Seaton who with his first touch made a good connection but it was straight at the Ossett keeper who continued with his fine performance.

Manneh again was first to respond from a knock down after a Durow throw. It was the tightest of angles but he still drew a save from Hiddleston who himself was thankful for the post to complete the clearance.

Manneh also had the ball in the net direct from a corner but the referee saw a foul on the goalkeeper and the strike was ruled out.

Both teams had chances in the closing moments. A route one goal kick from Hiddleston was knocked on by Peterson into the run of substitute Reece Mellor. He tried for goal but Annan was happy enough to let the ball flash past the post. Tingle was fouled on the edge of the box by Sylla-Diallo. He took the kick himself but it hit the wall and was cleared to safety.

Carlton should have scored a fourth as Seaton broke well into the box but was denied by a good challenge from Shane Killock.  Watson fired just over after a well worked corner, Sylla-Diallo shot wide after good hustle from Tempest to recover possession and release his midfield teammate and in the space of a minute, Manneh missed to the left and then the right of Hiddleston’s goal after excellent work from Seaton, Watson and Sylla-Diallo respectively found the Carlton winger in space.

This game could’ve quite easily finished 10-4 but a positive win for Carlton nonetheless in what is a very busy penultimate week of the regular season.

Carlton Town: F Annan, D Adegbola (L Stewart-Gorman 65), D Brown, K Sargent, L Durow, G Tempest, L Manneh, A Howes (M Sylla-Diallo 68), N Watson, N Davie (J Seton 69), N Hylton

Unused Subs: M Jebbison, P Dearle

Goals: L Manneh 4, N Watson 27, A Howes 63

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Lamin Manneh

Att: 143

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