With Stamford having lost to Loughborough the previous night, the Millers went into the game knowing a win would see them reach the top of the table for the first time in exactly 12 months. Shepshed meanwhile knew a point would be enough to get them out of the bottom two and after some recent encouraging results had some cause for optimism before the match.

That lasted all of five minutes for that is how long it took for Carlton to take the lead. Ashley Grayson, starting instead of the absent Nick Hall in one of two changes from Saturday’s win at Belper (the other being Ryan Goward in place of Adam Kimberley), played a ball out of midfield which Ian Brown latched on to. With goalkeeper Sam Andrew caught off his line Brown lifted the ball over him from just outside the area and into the gaping net.

Dynamo had already missed a great chance of their own, with the legend that is Steve Chaplin firing wide in the first minute, and in the early stages of the game it looked set to be a fierce contest with the midfields of both sides battling against driving wind and rain.

However, Carlton always looked dangerous and Terry Hawkridge fired just wide on 12 minutes with Andrew beaten, before Ricky Law hit an excellent cross into the Millers box but found no-one was able to connect for a certain equaliser.

On 20 minutes it was 2-0. Good work from Ruben Wiggins-Thomas led to a corner which was taken by Hawkridge. Matt Millns and Iain Screaton challenged for the ball and with Shepshed claiming a foul, Ashley Grayson reacted quickest to the loose ball to smash home from 12 yards.

Shepshed still continued to look dangerous themselves and Danny Marshall was called upon to make an excellent save from one Dynamo attack. Chaplin then fired wide from 20 yards as Shepshed sought a way back into the game.

That however looked impossible on 35 minutes when they conceded their third goal. Hawkridge’s corner was punched straight into his own net by Andrew with no-one near him. It was an unfortunate moment for the young goalkeeper but the weather conditions cannot have helped.

Wiggins-Thomas then advanced well down the right and when his cross was put out for a corner, Alistair Asher saw a shot blocked and then cleared.

With the game into the only minutes of first half stoppage time Ian Brown shot over from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

The feeling at half-time was that the difference between the sides hadn’t really been three goals, but the Millers had been better in both penalty areas than Dynamo. However, the second half was a more straightforward affair, with Carlton dominating midfield possession and as a result creating a string of chances.

Hawkridge fired just wide on 48 minutes after good work by Josh Thornton although Marshall had to make an excellent block a minute later as Lee Weemes looked set to score.

Ian Brown made it 4-0 on 54 minutes when he pulled away from his marker to glance home Hawkridge’s corner at the near post. That provoked a triple substitution from Dynamo but it had no effect on the game as Carlton poured forward.

Goward hit a free kick just over from 20 yards before Ashley Grayson made it five on 69 minutes. Once again Shepshed failed to pick him up at a corner and he headed home Hawkridge’s delivery from close range.

Two minutes later he bagged his hattrick. Ashley Kitchen, who had only just come on in a welcome return to action for the captain, knocked a long free kick into the area. Brown saw his effort blocked but the loose ball fell invitingly to Grayson who smashed it through a crowd of bodies into the net.

There were still 19 minutes left to play but although Goward hit another 25-yard effort just over, there were to be no more goals.

Carlton Town: Marshall, Asher, Fletcher, Millns (Kitchen 70), Darkin, A Grayson, Goward, Hawkridge, Thornton, Wiggins-Thomas (Gill 72), Brown (N Grayson 73). Unused substitutes: Kimberley, Smith.

Goals: Brown 5, 54, A Grayson 20, 69, 71, og 35.

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Ashley Grayson

Att: 129