Last year’s player of the year received his marching orders in first half stoppage time with the Millers already 2-0 behind. Newcastle then extended their lead early in the second half before a late fightback almost earned a point for the home side.

Les McJannet made one enforced change to the side which won at Lincoln last time out. Adam Kimberley was injured and Ryan Goward replaced him. It meant that Terry Hawkridge, available again after serving his three match ban, had to be content with a place on a strong looking substitutes bench.

Carlton opened promisingly and Reuben Wiggins-Thomas both had early efforts blocked by the Castle rearguard.

Left back Daniel Fletcher then delivered a long cross which saw Nick Hall beat goalkeeper Ben Chapman to the ball but his header was cleared off the line.

The visitors scored with their first attack. There were claims for offside as Newcastle advanced down the right but when the ball fell to Jack Harrison on the edge of the box there appeared to be little danger. Harrison hit a tame drive at Danny Marshall but the Millers custodian could only look on in horror as the ball squirmed out of his grasp, through his legs and over the goal line.

The goal clearly boosted the Staffordshire side who looked fairly resolute for the remainder of the half. Goward hit one drive narrowly wide on 23 minutes but the home side found themselves 2-0 down on the half hour. Ashley Grayson was floored by a high kick when challenging for the ball, the referee played-on and Kyle Diskin hit a thunderous drive from outside the area which flew into the top right hand corner of Marshall’s goal to the obvious delight of the travelling contingent.

If that was bad, things took a turn for the worse as the game approached half-time. Darkin mistimed a tackle on the halfway line, the referee deemed it to be worthy of a red card and Darkin received his second dismissal of the season.

The Millers made a good start to the second half and Theo Smith and Ian Brown combined well to provide another opportunity for Goward to shoot from distance, but Chapman held onto his effort.

The game looked over on 53 minutes. An innoccuous pass forward saw star striker Anthony Malbon in yards of space and as Marshall rushed off his line Malbon dinked the ball over him and into the net.

McJannet brought on Hawkridge and later Sam McVicar in an attempt to get something out of the game and the substitutions had some effect as Carlton pushed Newcastle back.

Ashley Grayson crossed to Ian Brown whose header was goalbound until a fantastic tip over by Chapman. Minutes later Hawkridge hit a cross shot from the right which was again superbly tipped away by the goalkeeper.

The Millers finally broke through on 71 minutes. McVicar forced his way into the area, there followed an almighty scramble on the six yard line, Newcastle claimed Chapman had been fouled but Wiggins-Thomas forced the ball over the line and the goal stood.

Forward came the Millers and Ashley Grayson shot just wide after a good run and lay-off by Smith.

McJannet made his last throw of the dice, bringing on veteran striker Neil Grayson with 10 minutes remaining. However, it was Newcastle who could have wrapped up the game on 83 minutes but Marshall made three stunning saves in quick succession to repel the visitors.

Carlton then attacked again and after Hawkridge and Neil Grayson combined, the ball fell to McVicar who played it across to Neil Grayson who shot inches past the post from 15 yards.

Still Carlton weren’t finished and with one minute left on the clock they made it 3-2. Nick Hall hit a lovely shot from the edge of the box which beat Chapman but cannoned back off the cross bar. With the goalkeeper stranded Neil Grayson was first to the loose ball and nodded it into the empty net.

With five minutes of added time to play there was still hope for Carlton, but Newcastle kept possession well and the ten men were unable to complete an unlikely comeback.

Carlton Town: Marshall, Asher, Fletcher, Darkin, Kitchen, Hall, Goward (Hawkridge 58), A Grayson, Smith (N Grayson 80), Brown (McVicar 63), Wiggins-Thomas. Unused substitutes: Gill, Thornton.

Goals: Wiggins-Thomas 70, N Grayson 89.

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Daniel Fletcher