McJannet returns to win Presdential derby

President's Cup preliminary round Rainworth MW 0 Carlton Town 3 Report by Gordon Foster

LES McJannet made a triumphant return to the club he coached last season as his Carlton Town side surged into the next round of the President’s Cup.
After a goalless first half Curtis Shaw shot Carlton into a 52nd minute lead and, although the Wrens’ defence came under constant second half pressure it was not until the 87th minute, by which time Rainworth were down to 10 men having Leiws Jackson injured when they had already used up their quota of substitutes, that Alex Troughton doubled the visitors’ lead and ended the match as a contest.
Shaw struck again with effectively the last kick of the match in the fourth minute of added time, and the third goal, if academic, served to reflect Town’s overall superiority.
As far as the Wrens were concerned this was their most disappointing display of what looks to be developing into a long, hard season at their new level. They were invariably a yard slower than their pacy visitors, and with the front line lacking any cutting edge and their midfield below par, it was inevitable that sooner or later their effective but over-worked defence would crack.
With the returning Terry Hawkridge pulling the strings Carlton bossed the midfield and, had it not been for keeper Sam Dobbs, the margin of defeat would undoubtedly have been heavier.
Dobbs produced a string of fine saves to keep the scoreline just within the bounds of respectability, and to stake a claim for the jersey against Mark Hales when the Wrens return to league action on Saturday.
Although Rainworth have always been blessed with good goalkeepers, one has to think back to that legendary side of 1982 to find the last time they had two of such high quality vying for the jersey, in Charlie Watson and Bernie Dawson. But Dobbs’ personal display was one of the few positives that manager Rudy Funk could take from what was a bad day at the office.
Others were the contributions of Matt Baxter and acting skipper Matt Draper, while teenage debutant James Fanfarillo was well up to the job he was given to do and looks to be one for the future.
Fanfarillo and Dobbs were both given starts in a much-changed line-up as both Funk and McJannet used the occasion to make some changes and give more players the chance to get some minutes under their belts.
Carlton were soon on the attack, and Baxter was forced to concede a corner in the opening seconds as former Wren Dennis Simms tried to set up Ricky Gardner from the left.
Rainworth had probably their best chance of the whole match in the fourth minute when Carlton keeper Danny Marshall made a hash of a cross, but Danny Bainbridge somehow got the ball under his feet and was unable to turn it home.
Brendan Sweeney went close in the ninth minute, but Dobbs was called into saving action when another fast Carlton raid brought a crisp shot on the turn from Antwon Bonnick.
Fanfarillo caught the eye with a surge forward through the middle on the half-hour, but his hasty 22-yard attempt did not match the run and finished wide of the mark.
However, the visitors continued to enjoy the territorial advantage and, after Dobbs had turned Shaw’s angled shot around the post he then did well to block Hawkridge’s blistering attempt from the half-cleared corner.
Four minutes into the restart Marshall had to advance well out of his box to head away only as far as Julian Topliss who quickly fed Jon Pickess, but the experienced striker was closed down quickly before he could get in his shot with the keeper still not back in his goal.
Dobbs saved again from Shaw in the 50th minute, but it was Shaw who had the laugh two minutes later when he created a yard of space inside the box to give the keeper no chance.
The goal had been coming, and Carlton thought they had added a second in the 58th minute when Nick Hall had the ball in the net, but referee Neil Guest had spotted that the Town midfielder had handled.
Fanfarillo came up with a superb challenge on Gardner as the Carlton winger looked to profit from Hawkridge’s exquisite crossfield pass, then Dobbs pulled off another fine save from Simms’ power drive.
By this time Rainworth had made two of their three substitutions, and when Pickess pulled up with Jackson already in some difficulty and limping badly, it was the striker who was replaced, leaving Jackson to struggle on.
But the wing back suffered a further injury in the 86th minute which left him unable to continue and Rainworth were down to 10 men.
Carlton profited immediately with their second goal, as Troughton stabbed home Daniel Fletcher’s cross to end the match as a contest.
But Town were not finished and went looking to add to their lead. Dobbs made a brilliant point blank stop to deny Hawkridge as the game went into overtime, but in the fourth added minute Shaw rubbed Rainworth’s noses in it with an unstoppable 20 yard howitzer, and there was just time to restart before Mr Guest put the Wrens out of their misery with the final whistle.
RAINWORTH: Dobbs, Fanfarillo, Bainbridge (M. Hewitt 52), Baxter, Hunt, Draper, Jackson, Alberry, Topliss, Pickess (Thomas 78), Sweeney (Moxam 54). Subs not used: Charlesworth, Hales.
CARLTON: Marshall, Darkin, Fletcher, Hawkridge, Kitchen, Hall (Goward 85), Thornton, Shaw, Bonnick (Troughton 65), Simms, Gardner (Clarke 78). Subs not used: Grayson, Trimmer.
REFEREE: Neil Guest of New Waltham, Grimsby.
ATTENDANCE: 121.
GOALS: Carlton—Shaw 52, 90+4; Troughton 87.
MEN OF THE MATCH: Rainworth—Sam Dobbs. Carlton—Terry Hawkridge.