The win was fully deserved as Carlton looked transformed from the side which has struggled in the Northern Premier League this campaign. Instead, on a fine surface and in a Football League stadium, and roared on by a raucous travelling support, and facing a Stags side containing five players with first team experience, the Millers produced their best display since last year’s semi-final win against Nottingham Forest under 23s. If they reproduce this level of performance in their remaining league matches then they will undoubtedly pull clear of the relegation positions.

There was mild controversy in the build up to the game when Mansfield elected to preserve home advantage, despite the general rule being that the three professional clubs in the Senior Cup play away from home when paired against a non-league opponent. That fact plus the pre-announced decision to include first team players rather than play a purely Academy team demonstrated that the Stags were clearly taking this competition very seriously. They would have been only too aware that the Millers beat them in last year’s final and Carlton can feel justifiably proud of the level of respect afforded them by their Football League opponents.

If the retention of home advantage was designed to disadvantage Carlton, it plainly had the opposite effect. Not only were the players clearly inspired by the surroundings, but the vastly superior playing surface suited their playing style far more than Stoke Lane. The supporters too enjoyed the opportunity to generate noise that a covered stand provides and made the most of it.

Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made four changes to the side which had lost to Shildon last time out. Into the side came Lawrence Gorman, Nat Watson (his current suspension doesn’t apply to the Senior Cup), Aaron O’Connor and, less than a month after suffering a broken leg, Niall Davie. Out went Jonathan White (cup-tied), Lewis Durow, Tyler Blake and Alex Howes.

Mansfield included George Maris, Riley Harbottle, Jimmy Knowles, Ollie Clarke and Jordan Bowery in their starting XI, all players with first team experience. Indeed, Clarke and Bowery came on as substitutes in the Stags’ 4-1 win against Doncaster Rovers three days earlier.

Within minutes of the start it became clear that Carlton hadn’t just come to make up the numbers. They started to pass and move with some style and Watson and Davie were imposing themselves on their talented opponents. Both players had outstanding games and were a major factor in the outcome of this match.

Davie had the first effort of the game when Carlton broke following a Mansfield corner. Kyle Tomlin surged into the Stags half before feeding Watson. He in turn found Davie who fired over the bar. At the other end Dan Brown did well to intercept a quick Mansfield counter-attack, something he did on multiple occasions throughout the night.

Mikey Emery was called upon to make a decent save from a long-range effort from Knowles before Dean Freeman headed a Jared Holmes free kick just over the bar.

On 31 minutes Watson picked up possession in midfield, surrounded by Mansfield players. He then produced a ridiculously outstanding rabona, passing the ball 20 yards with a flick behind his standing leg to send Davie away down the right. He slipped the ball to O’Connor who squared to Niall Hylton who lifted his shot over the bar. It was a superb piece of play from the Millers and reminiscent of the best of their football from last season.

It was end to end football. Emery made another save and immediately passed to Watson. He put O’Connor away and the striker drew a fine save from Louie Turner in the Mansfield goal, with the keeper also blocking a follow-up header and shortly afterwards saving a Watson free kick.

By now it was Carlton on top and they opened the scoring four minutes before half time from the penalty spot. A long throw from Gorman wasn’t cleared and a Mansfield hand got in the way of a shot in a crowded penalty area. Up stepped goalkeeper Emery and he sent Turner the wrong way for the second time in four weeks, having scored against the same goalkeeper in the recent draw at Long Eaton.

Mansfield came out for the start of the second half with a determination about them and Brown did well to cover another attack. Knowles still got a shot away that was saved by Emery.

The Carlton goalkeeper had to be alert to save from Clarke before Mansfield levelled on 54 minutes when Knowles cut into the area on the right hand side and directed his shot across Emery and into the corner of the net.

The goal awoke a youthful section of the Mansfield support and for the rest of the game there was an excellent exchange of songs between the two sets of supporters, with the Stags support seemingly envious of the array of scarves brought by the vocal Carlton following.

Emery did well to tip away a cross from Louis Bonser and by the midway point of the half the question was whether the superior fitness of Mansfield’s full time players would start to tell. The answer was an emphatic “no” as Carlton made substitutions to bring on fresh legs and if anything, they finished the game the stronger side.

Alex Howes, one of the substitutes, tore into the Mansfield defence and he, Tomlin and Watson were involved in one of the best moves of the game which eventually led to nothing.

With ten minutes remaining Howes sped down the left and sent over a delight of a cross but no one was on hand to convert. A minute later Watson found Brad Wells, another substitute who helped pin Mansfield back in their own half. Wells slipped the ball to Tomlin who played a lovely pass to send Howes clean through. He was absolutely poleaxed by Harbottle for what looked a stonewall penalty, only for the referee to wave away the claims, much to Carlton’s astonishment.

Still Carlton pushed forward and minutes later Wells hit a superb lofted shot from outside the area which was heading for the back of the net only for Turner to pull off a superb save, tipping the ball over the bar.

Turner then did well to cut out a Howes cross as the game entered added time.

Carlton’s work-rate had been tremendous throughout, with Gorman and Hylton refusing to be beaten down the flanks and Sargent and Tomlin, along with pretty much everyone else covering everything in the middle. But Mansfield were always going to create one final chance and they did so in the final minute of added time when Maris hit a scorcher of a shot, only to see Emery tip it over the bar.

Seconds later the referee blew for time and so that meant penalties.

Kyle Dixon went first but his strike was saved by Turner. Emery then saved from Knowles before Tomlin scored to put Carlton ahead. Maris scored for Mansfield to maintain parity before Gorman rifled his penalty into the roof of the net to put Carlton back in front. Emery then saved from Harbottle, diving to his left, before getting up and scoring himself to put Carlton 3-1 ahead in the shoot-out. Bowery kept Mansfield in the tie by scoring his penalty only for Howes to seal the win with Carlton’s fifth and final penalty.

That sparked scenes of jubilation on the pitch and amongst the 50 or so visiting supporters as Carlton made it to their seventh Senior Cup final in 12 years.

Carlton Town: M Emery, L Gorman, N Hylton (A Howes 65), D Brown, D Freeman, J Holmes (B Wells 77), K Tomlin, K Sargent, N Watson, A O’Connor (T Blake 71), N Davie (K Dixon 77). Unused substitutes: R Stainsby, L Durow

Goals: Mikey Emery 41 (pen); Jordan Knowles 54

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM – Niall Davie

Att: 545