NPL First Division East – December 19
Shea Thompson-Harris was sent off as Carlton Town lost 3-0 at home to Newton Aycliffe.
Thompson-Harris saw red less than 15 minutes into the game to leave the Millers with just 10 men for the vast majority of the match. And the Newtonians made their advantage count with a controlled display and three unanswered second half goals.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made one change to the side which had won at Sheffield last time out with Lamin Manneh returning from suspension to replace the absent Greg Tempest.
The referee made no allowances for the slippery surface, handing out yellow cards all night long including one as early as the fourth minute for the visitors Wayne Whitfield for what looked like no more than a straightforward foul. Niall Davie took the resultant free kick and Peter Dearle stabbed his cross just over the bar.
Thompson-Harris was sent off on 14 minutes for retaliation after claims of a stamp and an elbow by a Newton player. It was difficult to see in the gloom and it all seemed a little unnecessary, but Carlton have had an issue with unnecessary red cards this season and this was just the latest. The end result was the home side had just the ten men and Newton Aycliffe took advantage, playing calm composed football and looking to stretch the Millers at every opportunity in very much the same way that the Milers had done to 10-man Sheffield in their previous game.
They created very little in the way of clear chances in the first half thanks primarily to sterling work by the Millers defence and midfield, with Dearle making one excellent block and David Adegbola, Dean Freeman, Niall Hylton and Khyle Sargent in particular closing down multiple attacks.
Felix Annan made a fine save from Whitfield while captain Ethan Wood pulled one effort wide.
Manneh and Alex Hardwick were isolated up front and had little chance to do anything positive, but Carlton did almost score from the kick off in the second half when Davie tried an audacious chip which goalkeeper Nathan Fisher was just about equal to.
Jake Petitjean then went close as Newton continued to stretch Carlton but with no breakthrough they made a double substitution on the hour. One of the substitutes was Kyle Davis and within 30 seconds of coming on he opened the scoring. A free kick into the area saw Petitjean fire at goal. Davie cleared off the line but Davis controlled and fired the loose ball into the net.
Carlton responded a few minutes later. A fine run by Adegbola, linking up with Manneh, led to a cross to Hardwick. He knocked the ball back to Davie who lifted his shot over the bar from a good position.
Annan was called upon to make a superb save from the dangerous Wood before Carlton pushed forward again, only for Davie to be brought down by an industrial challenge from Jack Clarkson.
Liam Adamson went close to doubling the visitors’ lead when he beat Annan, only to see his shot hit the post.
Carlton’s best chance to equalise followed immediately afterwards. A fine run by Adegbola led to a corner. Fisher completely missed Davie’s delivery but when the ball fell to Hardwick at the back post he could only lift his effort over the bar.
Newton punished the Millers by scoring the game-killing second goal. Another excellent run from Wood saw him outpace the Carlton defence on the right. He crossed to the back post where Jack Blackford converted easily.
Five minutes later the Newtonians completed the scoring when a lovely ball from Oscar Eckley-Aldsworth sent Adamson away on the right. He took his time before finishing with aplomb. It was a disappointing night for the home supporters but they remained to the end to show their appreciation to the 10 men for their efforts.
Carlton Town: F Annan, S Thompson-Harris, N Hylton, D Freeman, P Dearle, K Sargent (M Ford 84), L Manneh (Z Hill 85), N Davie, A Hardwick, A Howes (L Durow 40), D Adegbola. Unused subs: M Ford, M Jawarra
Goals: Kyle Davis 61, Jackson Blackford 81, Liam Adamson 86
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Felix Annan
Att: 166
