STAMFORD 0-2 CARLTON TOWN - MATCH REPORT

Opoku’s brace came in the final 15 minutes of a competitive encounter at the Zeeco stadium which saw Carlton goalkeeper Jack Steggles make a number of top draw saves, including from a penalty, as Stamford created and spurned countless opportunities to win the game themselves.

On another day they might have had four, but they couldn’t breach the Carlton goal and Opoku made them pay in clinical fashion.

Manager Wayne Scott made three changes to the side which won at Spalding last time out. Niall Davie and Jordan Pick were unavailable so in came Joshua Kwade and Riece Bertram. There was also a debut for new signing Henry Rollinson with Oliver Robinson dropping to the bench.

In glorious conditions the Daniels started on the front foot, forcing Carlton to defend almost from the kick off. Carlton’s formation seemed to give Stamford time and space in midfield, with the Millers retreating to form a barrier on the edge of the penalty area.

Stamford moved the ball around on the floor and after a couple of early half chances they were presented with a perfect opportunity to open the scoring on 16 minutes with the award of a penalty.

Betram was outpaced by Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and brought him down close to goal. Up stepped Grant Ryan who hit his spot-kick to Steggles’s right. The goalkeeper dived low and tipped the ball onto the post before it was cleared to safety.

The miss didn’t deter the home side who continued to control possession. Jake Dufy, excellent throughout, played a deep ball to the back post which was just missed by Ryan.

Another lovely flowing move saw Reece Morris cross into the danger area and only a superb clearance by Toby Moore kept the Daniels out.

Carlton’s first real move arrive just before the half hour and saw Bertram and Connor Bartle combine to feed Kwadu. His cross was blocked but when the ball fell to Bartle he sent over a cross to Opoku who headed just wide.

By this stage Opoku had been the target of abuse from a small but vocal minority of the home support, which only increased after he was booked for a foul on Jordon Cooke. To his credit Opoku simply carried on battling as he has done all season for the good of the team.

Carlton’s only real chance of the first half came on 41 minutes when Opoku beat Kern Miller, was held back by Miller but able to shrug him off and crossed towards Mamoke Akaunu only for the ball to be cleared.

The Millers came out in a far more positive fashion at the start of the second half. Opoku shot high over the bar after a good ball from Bertram and Rollinson grew more into the game.

But as the half progressed Carlton again started to sit too deep and Stamford regained control. The home side came desperately close to scoring on 56 minutes when Ryan headed Joe Burgess’s cross against the cross bar with the loose ball falling kindly for Steggles.

Burgess himself then let fly from 25 yards only to be denied by an excellent save from Steggles.

Stamford must have known they weren’t going to score when, on 59 minutes Jon Challinor saw a shot blocked after a great run. The loose ball fell to Duffy who looked absolutely certain to score from a few yards out, only to be denied by a point-blank wonder save from Steggles.

Steggles made yet another save, this time from a Duffy free kick, before Fortnam-Tomlinson’s spectacular attempt at a scissor kick saw the ball fly just wide.

Still the chances came for Stamford. Next to miss was Miller, heading over unmarked from a corner. Then it was Fortnam-Tomlinson’s turn again. A pass was deflected into his path and put him clean through on goal but he could only steer his effort wide of the post.

Throughout all of this pressure the Millers had kept battling ferociously and they made Stamford pay for their profligacy on 75 minutes. Kwadu’s cross from the right was handled by Chris Salt and Opoku made no mistake from the penalty spot, sending Danny Haystead the wrong way.

Stamford continued to pour forward. Rollinson made one excellent block before Steggles and Moore combined to deny Fortnam-Tomlinson.

With three minutes left Ollie Brown-Hill saw a shot deflected wide before his lofted through ball was missed by Fortnam-Tomlinson.

Opoku then sealed the victory his performance deserved with a splendid goal in the last minute. Robinson played a lovely ball through the Stamford defence. Opoku outpaced the covering defenders, drew Haystead and slotted into the corner of the net via the post to the delight of the travelling fans behind the goal. It was the best way to silence the boorish abuse from supporters of a club who last week tried to prise him away from Stoke Lane.

Carlton Town: Steggles, Smithson, Bartle (Frost 90), Bertram , Moore, Walker, Rollinson, O Clark, Kwadu (Robinson 81), Opoku, Akaunu (Stovell 73). Unused substitutes: Tomlinson, E Clarke

Goals: Opoku 75 (pen), 89

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Jack Steggles

Attendance: 200