NPL First Division East – 28 August 2023
Carlton Town and their supporters enjoyed a day on the coast with a three-nil away win at Grimsby Borough.
Carlton’s only change from the home defeat against North Ferriby was an enforced one with Khyle Sargent returning in midfield for Michael Ford who was recovering from a nasty cut to the head he received in the previous loss.
The first half played out in warm sunshine and Carlton turned the heat up on the home team direct from kick off with a succession of corners forced by the hard running of David Adegbola, Niall Hylton and Lamin Manneh.
The first real effort for either side fell to Sargent in the 12th minute, but he failed to really connect with Dean Freeman’s cushioned header from a Lewis Durow throw in. Durow had a shot himself a couple of minutes later, but his acrobatic effort sailed well over the crossbar.
Carlton took the lead on the 19th minute following their sixth corner of the half. Liam Highton in the Grimsby goal failed to get any distance on his punched clearance from Greg Tempest’s delivery and the ball landed at the feet of Adegbola who composed himself before picking his spot in the middle of the goal.
Carlton extended their lead on the 33rd minute with a wonderful team goal. A first-time flick from Alex Howes in midfield sent Adegbola clear down the right-hand side. The winger drove towards goal before drilling a low cross towards Hylton who laid the ball off with one touch for Manneh who finished well into the bottom left corner of the net. Exquisite football from the young Carlton side.
Manneh could have scored again minutes later but shot narrowly over following more good interplay between himself and the impressive Adegbola. Felix Annan in the Carlton goal had to be on his toes in the 40th minute when he saved well from Tyler Edwards following Grimsby Borough’s best passing move of the half.
The away team made it three on the stroke of half time with Manneh turning provider on this occasion. The talented youngster chased down a long pass on the left and pulled the ball back brilliantly into the path of the onrunning Alex Howes who finished well to wrap up an excellent first half for the Millers.
The second half was a drab affair with an improved Grimsby Borough retaining lots of possession without really threatening Carlton’s goal. Their best chance came on the 64th minute. Annan could only parry an effort from Harvey Tomlinson and completed a great double save when he kept out the rebound.
Annan parried another good effort from Tomlinson in the 88th minute, but Dan Brown was on hand to clear the deflection off the line and keep Carlton’s clean sheet intact of the first time in the league this season.
Carlton Town: F Annan, S Thompson-Harris, L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, G Tempest, D Adegbola, K Sargent (Z Hill 73), L Manneh, A Howes (L Gorman 60), N Hylton (N Davie 60). Unused subs: N Liburd-Hines, M Jawarra
Goals: D Adegbola 19, L Manneh 33, A Howes 45
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: David Adegbola
Att: 195
