Barwell 1 Carlton Town 2

Grand National Day Proves to be a Bad Day at the Races as the Millers Grind Down the Canaries in a One Sided Contest.

Barwell lost for only the second time at Kirkby Road this year against a well drilled and skillful Carlton Town.

The Canaries were second best to a Carlton side that had more urgency and desire in most areas of the pitch throughout this game. Although the home side went ahead through Lewis Dodd on the half hour, from then on it was all one way as the Millers took the lead through two first half goals. The visitors totally dominated the play in the second half giving Barwell little chance to equalise.

After a couple of early efforts to breach the Carlton defence, the visitors quickly moved into their stride and Lavell White and Curtis Shaw were able to supply Neil Grayson and Massiah McDonald for the Millers.
The first significant attempt was by Grayson who latched onto a Josh Thornton cross and blasted over the bar.

Barwell had a number of attacks but were unable to penetrate the Carlton defence on the odd occasion they did venture forwards.

However, against the run of play it was Scott Rickards who found Lewis Dodd with an excellent square ball which allowed Dodd to place the ball neatly into the bottom right corner of the net to give Barwell the lead on the half hour.

Barwell had a chance to double the score soon after with Jamie Towers heading just over from close range.

The lead did not last more than three minutes as Neil Grayson sprung the offside trap and nipped in on the six yard line. With the Barwell defence shouting for offside and remaining static, the dangerous forward had the simplest of jobs to lob Richard Morris from three yards.

Carlton took the lead on 39 minutes as the impressive Terry Hawkridge found Nick Hall on the edge of the box. He struck a mighty volley which grazed the underside of the bar and gave Morris no chance.

After 52 minutes, Hawkridge had a chance to score as he receive a ball from the right from Massiah McDonald. His effort went a couple of feet over the bar.

A minute later, McDonald sprung the offside trap and ran for goal. Only a well timed tackle from Scott Hadland allowed Francino Francis to make the clearance.

Shortly after, Lavell White took his turn to threaten and shot from 12 yards but Richard Morris was well placed and saved well with his legs.

On the hour, Hawkridge again shot from the edge of the box but Francis was in the right place and the ball deflected off his for the corner.

After 62 minutes, Guy Sanders put in a late tackle on Lavell White and was booked for his trouble.

The introduction of Luke Barlone up front saw the home side play with a little more belief as he was able to hold up play and threaten the goal. On 74 minutes he had a chance to head but his effort went wide.

Soon after Nigel Julien found himself unmarked on the far post but he lacked the necessary control and his effort skewed off his foot.

With nine minutes remaining, Luke Barlone latched onto a Nigel Julien corner which he turned and fired goalwards. Danny Marshall in the Carlton goal made a fine save to deny the Barwell forward.

Given the passage of play, the hardest worked member of the home side was Richard Morris who made a number of excellent saves during the match. For this he was awarded Man of the Match.

With Newcastle Town overcoming Romulus, the League title is still no closer to being decided. Barwell will have to try again in three days time against Belper Town at Kirkby Road.

Team: Richard Morris, Scott Lower, Chris Hollist, Guy Sanders, Francino Francis, Jai Stanley (Craig Dutton 77), Jamie Towers, Scott Hadland, Scott Rickards (Nigel Julien 63), Kev Charley (Luke Barlone 57), Lewis Dodd.
Subs not used: Richard Letts, Adam Wykes.

Goal: Lewis Dodd 30.

Attendance: 125

Man of the Match: Richard Morris.