Back to league action after a thrilling midweek win in the County Cup, Carlton are on the road once more in the second of three consecutive away matches, this time to Rugby Borough.
The hosts won the inaugural Rugby derby last weekend with a 1-0 away win in front of a whopping 1,169 at Butlin Road. That result is reflective of Borough’s general preference in terms of points on the road. The side are happier away from home but they’re by no means unhappy on home turf. Promoted from Step 5 last year, the home side sit eighth and well within shooting distance of the play offs. Form has seen a bit of a descent from loftier positions but that’s largely due to an unenviable match schedule recently. Including the defeat to Carlton on 28th October, Borough had faced five of the top six in the last six matches with draws against Belper and Basford before that derby day victory last time out.
Carlton’s run since the last meeting between the sides, which saw Lamin Manneh score a goal of the season contender, has seen the Millers win five of their six games played in November, only losing to Coleshill. Manneh scored again at the weekend as Carlton won at Coventry Sphinx which brings their wins on the road to eight from ten contests. They’ve only lost once all year and it’s comfortably the best record in the league so far. The previous meeting between these sides was going Carlton’s way until the 81st minute when Borough got one goal back and it was only a remarkable performance from the Carlton goalkeeper, Felix Annan which won the points for the league leaders. Another close game is expected here.