NPL First Division East
November 2, 2024
A Nat Watson brace in the opening 15 minutes had Carlton two goals ahead but the home side rallied and were level by the middle of the second half following goals from Jake Petitjean and Liam Jarvie.
In an end-to-end finish to the game both sides had chances to clinch victory, with Charlie Carter hitting the post for the Millers, before Whitfield’s 89th minute strike secured the win for Aycliffe.
Carlton made four changes to the side which drew with Ashington last time out. Shea Thompson-Harris came into the side to replace the absent Lawrence Gorman. Louis Bonser, signed on loan from Mansfield Town just 48 hours earlier, made his debut at left back replacing the injured Lewis Durow. Niall Hylton replaced the ill Khyle Sargent and Nat Watson came into the side for Liam Moran who started on the bench.
Carlton got off to the perfect start when Watson scored in the third minute, heading home smartly from a fine Hylton cross from the left. Watson then doubled Carlton’s advantage on the quarter hour when he took advantage of some hesitant defending by Toby Pascoe to dispossess him and slot home from inside the area.
Newton Aycliffe didn’t look as if they’d woken up at the stage but they were back in the game within four minutes when, after a fine move that started at right back and went the full length of the pitch, a strike from Petitjean took two deflections to wrongfoot Felix Annan in the Carlton goal.
Petitjean then saw another effort go just wide before Whitfield made a superb headed clearance to deny Alex Howes after a dazzling run and cross by Watson.
With the game in first half added time Oliver Clark shot just wide and Pascoe failed to deal with a Hylton pass.
The Millers had the better of the early stages of the second half and Clark almost scored the goal of the season when his audacious 30 yard chip had goalkeeper Jim Pollard scrambling back from the penalty spot. With the ball about to cross the line just under the crossbar the keeper made a magnificent save, tipping the ball over the bar.
Aycliffe were starting to control the midfield and Carter had to chase back and make a fine tackle after losing possession. The equaliser came on 65 minutes when a corner was only half cleared and Jarvie headed home at the far post when the ball was crossed back in.
Aycliffe sensed blood and went for the kill, peppering the Carlton goal with a series of crosses that led to chances they failed to convert. At the other end Dean Freeman created an opportunity for Watson whose shot was deflected over.
The Millers brought on Moran but Aycliffe kept pushing forward and Annan made one excellent save while Dan Brown cleared off the line when a goal looked certain.
Dean Thexton missed a clear chance for the home side and Carter almost took full advantage when he ran onto a pass from Watson after a nice ball from Niall Davie and hit a fierce shot that beat Pollard but struck his near post.
Moran then held off Alex Nelson and hit a shot that drew a decent save from Pollard. Aycliffe then attacked and Ethan Wood fired just wide before Annan had to make another fine save.
With three minutes remaining Davie sped down the left and sent a cross that was just half a yard beyond the lunging dive of Moran. Think Gazza at Euro 96.
It was end-to-end stuff and Aycliffe then won it on 89 minutes. Whitfield picked up the ball a long way from goal but was allowed far too much time. He darted forward, shrugged off one challenge and then hit a low drive from the edge of the box that found the corner of the net.
The Millers players were clearly disappointed at the final whistle but they still managed to applaud the efforts of the small travelling support. It was, as always, appreciated.
Carlton Town: F Annan, S Thompson-Harris, L Bonser (L Moran 70), D Brown, D Freeman, C Carter, N Davie, A Howes, N Watson, O Clark (J Gilbert 73), N Hylton. Unused Subs: H Goddard, M Ford, L Durow
Goals: Nat Watson 3, 15; Jake Petitjean 19, Liam Jarvie 65, Wayne Whitfield 89
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: N Watson
Att: 179
