NPL First Division East – December 26
Goals from Lamin Manneh, Michael Ford and Alex Hardwick saw Carlton Town pick up a valuable three points with a 3-2 Boxing Day win at Grantham Town.
The win was merited in the end but the Gingerbreads made the Millers fight all the way for the points and will feel they might have got something out of the game had they defended a little more tightly.
Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made two changes to the side which had lost against Newton Aycliffe last time out. Shea Thompson-Harris was suspended and Alex Howes had been injured so into the side came Ford and Greg Tempest.
Carlton began well enough but the home side had the first chance when Osakpolor Solomon fired straight at Felix Annan after the Millers failed to clear a corner. But it was the visitors who took the lead on 11 minutes with a fine goal. Niall Davie played a lovely ball down the left to Manneh. He cut inside Elliot Walker before beating Curtis Hall at his near post.
Minutes later Peter Dearle sent Manneh away. He seemed to be brought down by Solomon but the referee awarded the free kick to Grantham.
Rodrigo Goncalves saw a dangerous cross cut out by right back Khyle Sargent but from the resultant corner the Gingerbreads equalised. Carlton were caught out not paying attention to a short corner routine and when they failed to clear Curtis Morrison’s cross, Matthew Doyle rifled a strike into the roof of the net.
The goal clearly lifted Grantham and Morrison went very close to scoring with a shot that flew across goal and just missed the far post. Carlton responded and a fine run and cross by David Adegbola presented Hardwick with a glorious opportunity but he volleyed over the top from six yards when it seemed easier to head into an open goal.
Dean Freeman was called upon to make an excellent saving tackle as Grantham broke, while Niall Hylton made a superb clearance of his own shortly afterwards.
A good move involving Tempest, Davie and Manneh saw Hylton get a shot away but Hall saved easily.
The Millers had looked off the pace in the first period but they clearly came out with renewed energy in the second half and were ahead within four minutes of the restart. A fine run and cross by Manneh on the left saw Davie shoot at goal. His effort was blocked but the loose ball fell kindly for Ford who scored his first goal for Carlton with a firm strike into the roof of the net.
On 64 minutes Hardwick extended the Millers’ lead, heading home a Davie free kick. At that stage Carlton had control of the game and were playing some decent passing football as they looked to open up the Gingerbreads defence. But Grantham never gave up and they reduced the arrears on 78 minutes when Bradley Munns’s shot took a heavy deflection to wrongfoot Annan.
Hardwick went close to restoring Carlton’s two goal advantage when he charged down a clearance from Hall but he couldn’t get a shot away. Soon afterwards Lewis Durow saw a header cleared off the Grantham line.
The home side searched for a leveller but the closest they came was an effort from Goncalves which drew a good save from Annan. Carlton played out the six minutes of added time in relative comfort and celebrated with the travelling support at the final whistle.
Next up for Carlton Town is a Friday night home game under the lights on December 29.
Carlton Town: F Annan, K Sargent (A Howes 64), N Hylton, D Freeman, P Dearle, G Tempest, L Manneh (L Durow 71), M Ford, A Hardwick, N Davie, D Adegbola. Unused subs: Z Hill, M Jawarra, L Sisawo-Danso
Goals: L Manneh 11, M Ford 49, A Hardwick 64; Matthew Doyle 21, Bradley Munns 78
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Lamin Manneh
Att: 336
