EXTRA TIME WOE FOR MILLERS......AGAIN

It was the fourth time in the last seven years that the Badgers have beaten the Millers in the semi-final of this competition, and of course last year they triumphed in the final. What made it all the more frustrating for home supporters was that Carlton most definitely had the opportunities to have won this match and made it into the final for the second successive year, but ultimately the Conference North outfit put their chances away when it mattered.

McJannet was forced into a change of goalkeeper, recalling Grant Vann whose only previous outing was in the quarter final against Rainworth as Andy Richmond’s partner was in the process of giving birth. Nick Hall replaced Joe Naylor in midfield.

Carlton began well and Ruben Wiggins-Thomas, named in the First Division South team of the year along with Terry Hawkridge, was sent clear on two minutes. But with just the goalkeeper to beat the ball took a bobble and his shot flew horribly high and wide.

Wiggins-Thomas then accelerated into the penalty area between Danny Elliot and Gavin Caines and between them they chopped him to the ground for a stonewall penalty. The referee was well placed but astonishingly waved away Carlton claims.

Eastwood forced their way back into the game and Elliot forced a corner after a good run down the left, and Vann tipped the dangerous flag kick away. From the resultant corner Kallum Keane received a yellow card for trying the punch the ball into the net.

On the half hour Sam McVicar turned neatly from a Hawkridge pass and shot just wide. Three minutes later the Millers’ pressure resulted in a goal. Alistair Asher delivered a well-flighted free kick and Matthew Millns headed past Sam Andrew in the Eastwood goal to make it 1-0.

Carlton almost extended their lead two minutes later when Hawkridge’s fine cross was headed clear by Sam Benjamin with Wiggin-Thomas waiting to pounce.

That was to prove crucial as Eastwood levelled a couple of minutes later. A free kick from the left was flicked on into the area and Jervaise Christie found himself completely unmarked to head home.

Nick Hall almost restored Carlton’s lead with a turn and shot from the edge of the box, but Andrew spilled it behind for a corner.

McVicar and Daniel Fletcher linked well to fashion another opening but again the best Carlton could get was a flag kick.

At half time Rob Darkin was taken ill so Ashley Kitchen replaced him. Eastwood came out well and Elliot went on a mazy run but shot wide, before McVicar sent Wiggins-Thomas clear but the striker overran the ball and the chance went.

Hawkridge was caught in possession on the half way line and Mitch Hanson advanced into the area before teeing up Elliot who looked certain to score before a magnificent goal line clearance by Kitchen.

On 65 minutes came Carlton’s best move of the game when Josh Thornton played the ball to Adam Kimberley who had just come on as substitute for Anton Foster. His excellent pass to Hawkridge resulted in a dangerous cross which Thornton failed to connect with at the back post by inches.

Vann came racing off his line to thwart a Badgers attack and on 77 minutes he made a fine save from Hanson.

Hawkridge put over another good cross a minute later which was cleared at the back post when Carlton looked certain to score, and with time running out Fletcher, Hawkridge, Kimberley and Thornton combined to create a chance for Wiggins-Thomas, whose header went just wide.

Anthony Griffith Junior then hit a spectacular overhead kick which flew just over as Carlton looked for the winner, but in the last minute of normal time Vann was injured racing off his line to collect another through ball. The result after a lengthy spell of treatment was that he could continue but his mobility was severely restricted.

It finished 1-1 so extra time was required. Vann made a fine save in the 91st minute and six minutes later came Carlton’s best chance of the match. An Eastwood corner was cleared to Hawkridge, he played a great ball to Griffith Junior who advanced deep into the penalty area. With Wiggins-Thomas unmarked in front of goal the wide man elected to shoot from the angle and his effort went over the bar.

Greg Simmons put over a dangerous cross but there was no one there to meet it before Kimberley had a shot well saved.

With 108 minutes on the clock Eastwood scored the decisive goal. A long ball forward caught Carlton cold and Wes Henry headed over the on-rushing Vann and into the empty net.

Despite pinning Eastwood back into their half for the rest of the match and playing with centre-half Millns as an extra centre forward, the Millers couldn’t beat Andrew and it was the visitors who once again triumphed in this fixture.

Carlton Town: Vann, Asher, Fletcher, Millns, Darkin (Kitchen 46), Hall, Foster (Kimberley 64), Hawkridge, Thornton, Wiggin-Thomas, McVicar (Griffith Junior 74). Unused substitutes: Naylor, Clarke.

Goal: Millns 33

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Mathew Millns