Carlton Town exited the FA Trophy after a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Coleshill Town.
Following defeat in Warwickshire at Leamington seven days earlier in the FA Cup, the Millers were hoping to bounce back with a repeat of the FA Trophy victory over the Colemen from 12 months ago. But the usually solid defence gave up three really poor goals and the Millers could have no complaints at the final outcome.
Carlton made two changes to the side which lost at Leamington. Into the side came Neo Saunders and Khyle Sargent with Niall Davie and Liam Moran, both carrying knocks, dropping to the bench.
In a game that started in glorious sunshine, the Millers started on top and Nat Watson drew a decent save from Bradley Clarkson in the opening minute after a sharp bit of play from Niall Hylton and Alex Howes.
Clarkson then saved comfortably from a Watson header as Coleshill struggled to get into the game. But with their first attack they opened the scoring on 10 minutes. A poor goal kick from Felix Annan was latched onto by the Coleshill midfield and Ben Usher-Shipway darted away without challenge on the right-hand side before crossing to Alex McSkeane who converted.
The goal spurred on the home side and they doubled their lead 10 minutes later. A quick free kick on the right-hand side saw Usher-Shipway once again in space and his cross was headed home by an unmarked Sam Tye.
The Millers were handed a way back into the game just after the half hour when they were awarded a penalty. Lamin Manneh had attacked down the right. He fed Howes and when his cross was blocked, Hylton fired in a shot that was saved. Michael Ford played the ball to Watson who laid it off to Saunders. Saunders’s cross was handled by Dan Brookes in the area and Watson stepped up and fired home the penalty.
The Millers did lift their game at this stage and Manneh saw a couple of dangerous crosses cleared but at the other end Annan made a smart save to deny Joe Palmer.
The Millers almost equalised on 43 minutes when Hylton ran onto a lovely pass from Khyle Sargent. He cut inside and laid the ball off to Watson whose shot went just wide. Carlton didn’t have to wait much longer and deep into first half stoppage time Watson bagged his second goal. Manneh had run at the Coleshill defence, saw a shot blocked and had fallen over but still managed to pass to Howes in the area. His shot was also blocked but when the rebound fell to Watson he made no mistake, rifling home to the delight of the travelling support.
The next goal was always going to be key and Carlton started the second half well, with an early cross by Manneh cleared.
Dan Brown had to be alert to head away a Coleshill attack before that rarest of events, a Brown mistake, saw the home side score what turned out to be the winner. There was little danger when the home side knocked a long ball forward but Brown underplayed a back header towards Annan and McSkeane darted in to lob the stranded goalkeeper.
Carlton kept the effort levels high but the quality was down on recent displays. Hylton had a decent opportunity after substitute Moran had knocked down a throw in but he skied his effort over the top.
The best chance came with 15 minutes remaining when Watson sent Moran clean through on goal. The striker elected to pass towards Manneh instead of shoot and the covering defender cleared the danger.
By then the storm clouds were right above the pitch and the final 15 minutes of the game was played out in a torrential hail storm of almost biblical proportions. The referee himself was injured for part of that due to an insulin device being dislodged by the storm, which meant that there were nine minutes of added time
The Millers almost equalised in that period when Watson ran onto a fine pass from another substitute, Davie, but his angled drive was well saved by Clarkson and Coleshill held on to secure their victory.
Carlton Town: F Annan, S Thompson-Harris (O Soloman 77), N Saunders (L Marfo 72), D Brown, D Freeman, K Sargent, N Hylton (N Davie 88), M Ford (L Moran 46), N Watson, A Howes (S Hooper 77), L Manneh.
Goals: Nat Watson 32(pen), 45+3; Alex McSkeane 10, 62, Sam Tye 20
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOM – Nat Watson
Attendance: 62
