In a fiercely competitive game, the Millers could have no complaint about the final outcome as they struggled to create any chances of note and were grateful to some sterling work by the back five in keeping the home side within reach.

There were two changes to the side which lost to Sutton Coldfield. Matt Millns and Nick Hall were unavailable so Ashley Kitchen and Ashley Grayson returned to the side. There was also a place on the bench for the new goalkeeper Grant Vann, signed from Burton Albion.

Carlton attacked from the off and Alistair Asher saw a shot saved in the first minute, but it was Drayton who looked the sharper in the opening half. Andy Richmond had to be off his line quickly to gather the ball on 12 minutes as the home side broke.

Some good interplay by Ian Brown, Terry Hawkridge and Daniel Fletcher created an opening on 25 minutes but Fletcher’s cross was tipped away by Matt Cohen in the Drayton goal.

Market Drayton were making good inroads by playing long cross field balls from Nick Porter on the right to Stuart Ellis on the left but the Millers defence stood firm.

Reuben Wiggins-Thomas was fouled off the ball on the half hour but the referee waved away claims for a penalty, while at the other end striker Martin Davies shot wide when presented with a good opportunity.

The Millers best chance of the first half came on 35 minutes when Josh Thornton played in Wiggins-Thomas after a poor clearance by Grant Goodhead. With just Cohen to beat the striker tried to take the ball round him, Cohen was able to smother the ball and the chance was gone.

Carlton were made to pay for that miss just minutes later when Drayton took the lead. A free kick on the laf way line was played into the near post. The Millers failed to clear their lines and Paul McMullen slammed home high into the net from close range.

Richmond was called upon to make a fine save at the start of the second period from a 20 yard effort and moments later Wiggins-Thomas was just wide from a Millers corner.

Les McJannet brought on Sam McVicar for Ian Brown but it was Drayton who continued to push and after Dorryl Proffitt advanced well down the left, his cross was met by Porter who flashed a drive across the face of the goal and wide.

The Millers responded and Thornton chipped just wide from a corner, before Drayton substitute Andy Cooke beat the offside trap and only a block by Alistair Asher saved a goal.

Asher was at it again minutes later when Kyle Blake broke after Hawkridge was tackled in midfield. With Blake looking certain to score only a superb last-ditch tackle by the Carlton man stopped what would have been a match-winning strike.

With time running out, Thornton saw a header blocked from a Hawkridge free kick and then, in the 90th minute, came the best chance of the match. McVicar did well to beat a defender and find himself bearing down on goal with just the keeper to beat. With Neil Grayson and Wiggins-Thomas screaming for the ball in the middle of the goal, McVicar hesitated long enough before dispatching his shot. The delay allowed Matt Johnson to make a saving tackle and with it went Carlton’s last opportunity.

Carlton Town: Richmond, Asher (Kimberley 76), Fletcher, Darkin, Kitchen, A Grayson, Foster (N Grayson 84), Hawkridge, Thornton, Brown (McVicar 67), Wiggins-Thomas. Unused substitute: Vann.

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM – Rob Darkin