NPL First Division East
December 28, 2024
Report by Ben Marsh.
Stunning strikes from Khyle Sargent and Lamin Manneh either side of a Lawrence Stewart-Gorman goal gave the Millers a third win this month.
Carlton made one change from Boxing Day as Niall Hylton dropped to the bench for the returning Liam Moran who led the line.
On a heavy surface it was the visitors who had the first sight of goal. Max Bauer found space in the Carlton box but his left foot strike was smothered by Felix Annan.
Carlton hit the front after just five minutes. Khyle Sargent picked up the ball thirty yards out, advanced and in the absence of pressure took a shot. His right foot strike angled away from the despairing dive of Harry Flatters in the Garforth goal and hit the back of the net to the delight of the Shed End.
Garforth responded well and were denied again by an in-form Annan. Sam Barker’s excellent run from halfway drew a foul from Nat Watson right on the edge of the box in a central position. Jordan Emery stepped up and hammered the ball low to the Carlton goalkeeper’s right side but Annan did superbly to react and with a strong arm, preserving the Millers lead.
Carlton pressed forward and won a succession of corners. With a short corner routine, Manneh found Watson on the edge of the box. The Millers number nine beat his man and fired a powerful left foot shot at goal but Flatters was equal to it, pushing the ball over for another corner. Manneh supplied again but the ball was cleared back to him. He tried again and Flatters stayed on his line, Alex Howes winning a header in the six yard area and Lawrence Stewart-Gorman reacted quickest to prod home from a couple of yards to double the Millers’ lead.
As the visitors tried to get back into the game, it was Carlton on the break who had the better chances in the next ten minutes. Manneh’s pace was a constant threat but Rinor Ejupi at right back was equal to it producing a fine tackle as the Carlton wide man was threatening to break clear. From the resulting throw Lewis Durow delivered a fine cross into the box and it was Manneh who found space and his left foot strike drew a good save from Flatters low to his left.
Garforth did start to command more of the play and were unlucky as a corner flashed across the face of goal. Jamie Barkway advanced from centre back with a good run and he was unlucky as his shot was just over the Carlton bar. Ejupi was under pressure again from Manneh but this time his timing was off and he went into the book but a few minutes later Garforth did get the goal their play deserved. Harry Viggars from left back powering home a header from a corner.
As the Miners piled on the pressure Dan Brown was well positioned to deflect wide a Charlie Marshall shot which was goal bound. Annan did well under pressure to bat away a Dan Coupland free kick. But once more, on the break Carlton created. Liam Moran did superbly well to wriggle clear from Barkway and advance forward. Howes provided the support and was unlucky as his shot flew over the bar.
The second half got underway as the mist descended and Garforth were unlucky to not score early. A goalmouth scramble with a mess of bodies eventually resulted in Moran clearing. Barker intercepted the ball but was well closed down by Charlie Carter who was excellent again. His smart pass found Manneh on halfway and he ran away first from Barker and then Ejupi, wary of being on a booking. Flatters delayed closing down the angle and Manneh lashed the ball into the goal from an impossible angle.
The Miners, roared on by a large travelling support, responded well and Annan again was called into action. After some good work from Marshall on the right Matt Antcliff found space on the edge of the box and hammered a left foot strike which looked certain to go in but Annan flew high and saved brilliantly.
Brown and Dean Freeman were snaffling up long balls but Carlton were increasingly retreating as the time ticked on but it was on the break again where they were dangerous. Carter won the ball on the right and fired and wonderful cross field ball to Manneh but once again Ejupi was on hand with a well-timed tackle. Howes did well to intercept an out ball from Flatters and found Watson who crossed to the back post for Moran. His header back across the box was just short of Howes and Flatters gathered.
As the substitutes were deployed from both sides it did little more than disrupt the flow of the game which suited the home side and they saw out a fine win to end a decent return from the month. Carlton finish 2024 in tenth position in the table. The Millers start 2025 on the road with the supporters’ favourite away trip to Sheffield.
Carlton Town: F Annan, L Stewart-Gorman (S Thompson-Harris 90) L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, C Carter, L Manneh (N Hylton 77),  K Sargent, N Watson (M Ford 77), L Moran, A Howes. Unused Subs: N Saunders, H Goddard
Goals: K Sargent 5, L Stewart-Gorman 24, L Manneh 49; Harry Viggars 38
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Khyle Sargent
Att: 229
