The Millers fell short against Coalville as they rued missed chances before their new signing Nialle Rodney pounced a mistake in the Carlton defence. Then Aaron Hooton did similar also, coming back to haunt his former club, as he came on in the first half due to injury. Although Daniel Gordon did pull one back for the visitors just before half time, although neither side were able to add to the score line second half.
Early on Carlton realised they would be in for a tough afternoon, when Alex Troke turned and shot, but it was straight at Jack Steggles. Then moments later Luke Smithson had a shot across goal, but it went wide of the far post.
Then the Millers grew into the game, Gordon delivered a corner that bounced around the goal, but all Romaine Graham could do, was back heel the ball wide of the target.
However, it was still the home side creating the most pressure, and came close when a miss kick was Steggles went straight to Nialle Rodney, but the strikers’ effort was saved and held by Steggles, making amends for his error.
Then chances came for the away side, as Tom McConway played a great through ball to Graham, who beat two Coalville players, but his shot trickled wide of the far post. Then great build up play by Gordon played in Josh Rae, but his shot was delfected off target.
The hosts were the side to break the deadlock, when another mix up at the back, let in Rodney who took the ball past Steggles and then when faced with the empty goal, smashed the ball into the back of it.
Then Hooton doubled the lead five minutes later as a low cross from the right hand side fizzed into the box, falling to the former Miller Hooton’s feet, who crashed the ball home from short distance.
However, Carlton did grab a goal back before the break, as Graham did well to keep the ball in on the by-line, before cutting the ball inside and playing it backwards to Gordon, who slammed the ball past Sean Bowles and into the net.
In the second half the game became a midfield battle, with very few clear chances, but the Millers thought they’d levelled when Rae provided a cross that was headed goal bound by Gordon, but the ball hit the post before flying into the arms of Bowles, who was rooted to the spot from the initial header.
Carlton now have to shake off this loss, collecting only positives from it, as they move on to two cup clashes in a row. Firstly at home to local rivals Basford United on Wednesday in the League Cup. Then travelling to the West Midlands Saturday, as they face Stourbridge in the FA Trophy, who they eventually lost to last season in the same competition after forcing a replay.
Coalville Town: Bowles (C), Smithson, Torr, Freeman, McAteer, Walshe, Watson, Holmes, Rodney, Troke, Woolley.
Subs: Hooton, Dean, Byrne, Morrall, Heister.
Goal Scorers: Rodney 34, Hooton 40.
Carlton Town: Steggles, Walker, Wholey, Graham (Lusamba 70), Hodgett-Young, Green, Rae (J. Law 80), Howell (C), Fletcher (Sturgess 45), McConway, Gordon.
Unused Subs: Marshall.
Goal Scorers: Gordon 45.
Attendance: 111
Man of the Match: Daniel Gordon