Notts FA Senior Cup Quarter-final – January 10
Goals in either half from Kieran Fenton and Remaye Campbell saw Carlton Town exit the Notts Senior Cup as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Basford Utd.
The Millers came into this quarter-final tie on the back of a fine win at North Ferriby last time out and fancied their chances against a Basford side who have spent most of the season at the wrong end of the table in the division above Carlton’s. But the visitors looked in control throughout, particularly in the first half when they missed a number of good chances and Carlton failed to make their ex-loanee goalkeeper Kieran Preston make a meaningful save all evening.
To make matters worse, Carlton finished the game with 10 men after injuries to Lamin Manneh, Alex Hardwick and Niall Davie saw them leave the field, and goalkeeper Felix Annan is also a worry after he picked up a groin injury that saw him unable to take goal kicks for most of the game.
Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey named an unchanged side from the North Ferriby win but on a heavy pitch it was clear from the opening exchanges that Basford were much the sharper team.
They had a golden opportunity to open the scoring on 16 minutes from the penalty spot when Annan brought down Rev James in a goalmouth scramble after the goalkeeper had saved a shot from Henri Wilder. But Jack Thomas’s spot kick hit both posts before Jack Lewis’s shot from the rebound was saved by Annan.
Basford didn’t let the miss upset their rhythm and they continued to cause problems for the Millers with Mason Frizelle firing wide from six yards after a corner got through to him at the back post. Minutes later a fine clearance from Preston found Wilder on the left. He crossed for Jonathan Wafula to hit a fierce drive that was excellently saved by Annan.
Carlton finally got some forward momentum going with a run from the impressive David Adegbola and Niall Davie earned a free kick soon afterwards following a fine run. Davie himself took the free kick but Preston saved well.
Ryan Ebanks had to be alert to clear the danger from yet another Basford attack before Carlton lost Manneh to injury on 39 minutes.
It looked as if Carlton were going to get in at half time somehow all square until Fenton headed home a corner unmarked in the last seconds of first half injury time.
The Millers came out with more purpose in the second half and Lewis Durow in particular kept trying to get the team going but Basford looked comfortable and Annan was called upon to make a fine block from Wafula.
However, the game was effectively over when Basford scored their second on 68 minutes and it was a dreadful goal to concede. There appeared little danger when a cross from the left reached Peter Dearle in the six yard area but his attempted clearance when high into the air. Annan came to claim it but missed the ball completely and Rev James had the easy task of lifting the ball into the open goal.
From then on very little of note occurred albeit Carlton did take the opportunity to bring on Dan Brown and Michael Ford. Lawrence Gorman also came on when Hardwick limped off injured which led to Dean Freeman going up front. Freeman forced Preston into a save late on with a header from an Ebanks cross but Carlton’s injury worries increased when Davie left the field on 90 minutes and the Millers played out added time with 10 men.
They could certainly have no complaints at the final outcome and will look to get back to winning ways when they resume their league campaign on Saturday.
Carlton Town: F Annan, R Ebanks, L Durow, D Freeman, P Dearle (D Brown 68), K Sargent (M Ford 79), L Manneh (N Hylton 39), N Davie, A Hardwick (L Gorman 74), A Howes, D Adegbola. Unused Subs: G Tempest
Goals: Kieran Fenton 45, Remaye Campbell 68
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Lewis Durow
Att: 181
