In an eventful game on an excellent playing surface, both sides would have scored more goals but for some excellent goalkeeping and, in Kimberley's case, the woodwork which denied the home side three times!

The first of those was in just the second minute when a fierce shot hit the bar and Toby Randall made a superb save from the follow-up header.

Within three minutes Carlton were ahead. A lovely ball sent Sam Whitten through on goal. The Kimberley keeper made a great save only for the full back to rifle the loose ball into his own net when trying to clear.

The home goalkeeper was busy again on 16 minutes, making a fine save from Joel Deft after a lovely pass from Jacob Sturgess.

Kamani Wilson doubled the lead on 22 minutes with a close range header following a magnificent run down the right from Eli Bako and a very cheeky lofted cross.

It wasn't all one way though and Welfare hit the post again with a header across the face of goal.

Newly signed Patrick Quinn was impressing down the left and when his cross was cleared, Joel Deft played a delightful ball into Jordan Smith. With the goal at his mercy the striker missed his kick.

Like all good strikers he didn't let it worry him and on 38 minutes he made it 3-0, running onto a Bako through ball and hitting a fierce shot into the corner of the net.

Eight minutes into the second half the woodwork saved Carlton again, with a Kimberley cross shot hitting the bar.

Back came Carlton and a delightful cross from Quinn led to the best saves of the game from the Kimberley goalkeeper, as he turned away a Smith close range effort and then got up to somehow deny Deft who looked certain to score.

The keeper wasn’t finished though and he next denied Daryll Thomas when the veteran striker was clean through on goal.

Randall in the Carlton goal wasn’t to be outdone and he made an excellent save from a goal-bound 20 yard strike on 75 minutes.

Two minutes later Kimberley got the goal their play deserved, stealing in at the near post from a fee kick to slot home.

Randall made another fine save late on as Kimberley pushed forward under the watchful eye of the Long Eaton manager as well as a decent crowd on a very pleasant evening.

All managers present will have been impressed with the talent on display and for Carlton’s joint bosses, there is real optimism at the strength in depth ahead of the NPL campaign.

Carlton Town: Randall, Sturgess (Cockram 46), Quinn, Fletcher, Brown, Bako (Shaw 65), Whitten (Graham 56), Toxtle-Bell, J Smith (Wilson 71), Wilson (Thomas 46), Deft (Sturgess 74).

Goals: og 5, K Wilson 22, J Smith 38