NPL First Division East – 18 April 2024
Liversedge had once again been instructed by the league to play this fixture at an alternative venue to their home ground at Clayborn due to ongoing pitch issues. Consequently, their magical mystery tour of ‘home’ matches took them to Ingfield Stadium, the home of Ossett United in West Yorkshire. A healthy number of Carlton supporters had made the journey, buoyed by the teams very impressive home win against Ossett only two days earlier.
Carlton’s management team made two enforced changes to the side which had played Ossett. Mamadou Sylla Diallo replaced Greg Tempest who was struggling with illness and Alex Hardwick returned in place of Nat Watson who has returned to Shirebrook following the completion of his loan spell. I’m sure everyone at Carlton would send their thanks to both Nat and Shirebrook as he was simply unplayable at times over the last few weeks and a delight to watch.
The match was played out in the type of weather we have all become accustomed to this season with lashing winds and rain affecting conditions. Carlton started brightly and had a good chance to take the lead on eight minutes. A nice passing move along the edge of the box involving Niall Hylton and Niall Davie fed Hardwick who shot just over the crossbar. A few moments later Alex Howes also had a good chance but his effort went well wide.
The next chance fell to Lamin Manneh to struck the ball well but saw his effort punched away by the Liversedge goalkeeper Louis Hood. Liversedge became more involved in the game as the half went on and looked to build on strong runs from their impressive left back, Jeremie Milambo.
It was Carlton who took the lead on 34 minutes. The unfortunate Eddie Church could only manage to head the ball into the roof of his own net when attempting to defend an excellently delivered, Lamin Manneh corner. Church’s half went from bad to worse soon after when his goal bound effort was cleared off the line by Khyle Sargent following some nice interplay by Liversedge in the Carlton penalty area. As good as the clearance was the striker should have scored.
Liversedge had a further chance to equalise before half time. A fortunate deflection saw the ball drop to Milambo whose low driven shot was expertly saved by Felix Annan.
The second half started in a similar manner. Annan made a decent save soon after the restart and Dan Brown was on hand with a good block to deny a goal bound effort as Liversedge searched for an equaliser. At the other end Sylla Diallo had a good shot from distance well saved by Hood.
The game continued in a frantic, end to end fashion but it was clear that the Carlton players were visibly tiring following their efforts of recent days. Liversedge began to dominate midfield and Jack Carr drew two more fine saves from Annan. Carlton did have a chance to extend their lead on sixty-three minutes. Substitute Micah Jebbison battled well to win the ball down the right-hand side and his trickery released the ball to Lewis Druro whose fine cross just evaded Davie on the stretch at the back post.
Liversedge equalised on sixty-nine minutes when a high ball was knocked down into the path of Sam Essien who scored from close range.
Carlton almost retook the lead moments later when a miskick presented the ball to Alex Hardwick who stuck the ball brilliantly on the half-volley from outside the box, only to see it hit the underside of the crossbar and away to safety.
A fine double save from Liversedge keeper Hood, first from Davie at the edge of the box and then from Jebbison close range effort kept the scores level.
Liversedge got the decisive breakthrough on 85 minutes and it was a breakaway goal worthy of winning any game. A coming together around the half-way line saw the ball drop to Carr who drove towards two Carlton defenders before smashing the ball into the net at an angle from the edge of the box to the delight of the handful of ‘home’ fans in attendance. Liversedge managed the last five minutes of regulation time and the additional five minutes of injury time well and while Carlton huffed and puffed they struggled to offer much of a threat as the game drew to a close.
Carlton Town: F Annan, D Adegbola, L Durow, D Brown, K Sargent (P Dearle 71), M Syla-Diallo, L Manneh (M Jebbison 59), A Howes, A Hardwick (J Seaton 73), N Davie, N Hylton. Unused subs: D Freeman, Z Hill
Goals: Eddie Church og 34; Samuel Essien 69, Jack Carr 85
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Felix Annan
Att: 92
