NPL First Division East – 12 August 2023
Niall Davie scored in the fourth minute of added time as Carlton Town secured a dramatic opening day 2-1 win at Pontefract Collieries.
The win was a deserved outcome for a fine second half display in a wind-affected game in which the new-look Millers took the game to a resilient Pontefract side. But it looked as if Carlton were going to have to settle for a point until Davie’s late, late intervention.
Carlton made just one change from the side which had beaten Quorn in the FA Cup in midweek, with Michael Ford making his full debut replacing the unavailable Khyle Sargent. Pontefract also came into the game on the back of a win in the FA Cup and received vocal support from the majority of the 199 crowd.
The home side had a strong wind at their backs in the first half and they put the Millers under pressure from the outset, with Connor Smythe drawing a fine early save from Felix Annan in the Carlton goal.
The home side thought they had opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Adam Haw followed up a shot that had hit the post to score, only for a linesman’s offside flag to chalk it out.
But the Millers were struggling to retain possession and Dean Freeman and Dan Brown were kept occupied alongside David Adegbola and Lewis Durow in repelling Pontefract attacks.
Pontefract took the lead with 24 minutes on the clock. A corner on the right was only cleared as far as Jack Seers. His shot was parried by Annan and Callum Nicell was on hand to slot home the loose ball.
Shortly afterwards Annan made a fine save from another Smythe effort before Carlton equalised with virtually their first attack of the half. Lamin Manneh picked up the ball on the left side of the penalty area. He drew Jack Greenough before skipping past him and hitting a delightful curling effort that beat Harry Flatters on the Pontefract goal with the aid of a deflection.
The Millers kept Ponte at bay for the remainder of the half and emerged in the second period a different side as they now had the wind behind them.
From the opening moments of the second half it was Carlton who were pushing forward, playing far more of the pass and move football that had characterised their pre-season, with Pontefract struggling to clear their lines. The home side were also hampered by the loss of Greenhough to injury at half time, and with him went their long-throw weapon.
Carlton’s first chance of the half came on 53 minutes when Alex Howes played a lovely pass to Niall Hylton. His shot was blocked and the ball fell to Romello Nangle but he couldn’t beat Flatters from a good position.
Steers was perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card when he brought down Manneh on the edge of the box
Carlton continued to push forward but didn’t really test Flatters, as the home defence won all of the aerial battles. The Millers brought on Davie and he had an instant impact with two darting runs that caused problems for Ponte.
Davie saw a shot blocked after some good work by Hylton. Durow picked up the loose ball but when Ponte won possession they suddenly had a dangerous counter attack on the go until an expert challenge from Brown stopped them in their tracks.
Into the final 10 minutes and Greg Tempest sent over a lovely free kick to Nangle who cut inside Steers before seeing his shocked blocked. Manneh followed up but his effort was deflected over the bar.
Ponte had a rare moment in the Carlton half with four minutes remaining but Freeman and Davie averted the danger.
With the game in the second minute of the five minutes of added time Carlton produced a lovely move with Brown, Manneh, Adegbola and Davie all combing before Davie saw a shot blocked and Lawrence Gorman saw his effort from the rebound cleared.
There was still time for late late drama though. The Millers pinned Pontefract back in their left back position with a serious of throw-ins that eventually led to a corner. Tempest’s first flag kick was cleared back to him. His second cross was also cleared, this time to Gorman. His cross to the back post was met by Flatters but the goalkeeper failed to hold onto the cross and Davie gleefully headed into the unguarded net to spark scenes of celebration amongst the healthy contingent of travelling fans behind the goal.
The Millers dealt with one final Pontefract free kick before the final whistle and the players came across to the supporters to thank them for their efforts at the end of the game. It was very much reciprocated.
Carlton Town: F Annan, D Adegbola, L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, G Tempest, L Manneh, M Ford (L Gorman 62), R Nangle, A Howes (N Davie 73), N Hylton (S Thompson-Harris 88). Unused subs: N Liburd-Hines, M Jawarra
Goals: L Manneh 35, N Davie 90; Callum Nicell 24
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Lamin Manneh
Att: 199
