The Millers moved up to second in the table with their fifth win in six league games and in many respects this was their finest performance so far. The Daniels started the game in second place themselves and looked threatening throughout but a superb defensive display plus some clinical finishing brought the points back to Stoke Lane.

Manager Tommy Brookbanks was absent ill and so joint-manager Mark Harvey was in sole charge on the night. He made three changes to the side which had lost against Worksop last time out. In came Daniel Fletcher, Luke Smithson and, after serving his three game suspension, Danny Elliott. Out went Oliver Robinson, Chris Marshall and Oliver Clark.

On a glorious playing surface and with boisterous support for both teams, including an excellent travelling support, Stamford had the first chance of the game when Rob Morgan fired just wide after some good play by Pearson Mwanyongo.

Carlton opened the scoring on 10 minutes with their first real attack of the game. Aaron Opoku collected the ball on the left hand side from Niall Davie. He turned Jordon Cooke inside out before sending over a pin-point cross to the right side of the penalty area where Luke Smithson volleyed home unmarked. It was a lovely goal.

Mwanyongo fired just over the bar as Stamford responded before Harvey was forced into an early change. Fletcher had to go off injured on 20 minutes and he was replaced by Robinson, who slotted in at right back with Dan Brown moving to left back.

As the half progressed Carlton sat ever-deeper with Stamford taking control of the midfield. However the Millers kept their shape really well, with the full backs tucking in, the midfield forcing the home side to move the ball from side to side and the centre-halves winning virtually everything thrown into the area.

As a result Stamford were restricted in the main to a series of efforts from outside the area which didn’t trouble Jack Steggles.

Morgan should have levelled on 30 minutes when he put a free header wide at the far post but the Millers then began to offer an attacking threat of their own.

Elliott saw a 25-yard shot comfortably saved and after Jon Challinor fired just over, Smithson crossed just ahead of the onrushing Elliott.

The Millers extended their lead on 37 minutes. Tom Maddison played a cross into the area which found Opoku. His shot looked a certain goal until a superb block by James Blunden.

From the resulting Maddison corner Opoku headed towards Tyler Blake. His back-heel was blocked but the loose ball was forced home by Toby Moore despite the efforts of Cleveland Taylor on the line.

Steggles had to come off his line sharply to deny Mwanyongo just before half time while Opoku saw another shot blocked by Blunden as the Millers went in 2-0 to the good.

Opoku was desperately close to putting Carlton 3-0 ahead four minutes into the second half. Elliott won the ball on the half way line, advanced and then played a delightful pass to the striker. He held off the challenge of Charlie Ward, cut into the area and shot low into the corner, only to be denied by a superb save from Danny Haystead.

Stamford seemed energised by the save and put the Millers defence under a period of sustained pressure. There was some neat quick passing as they moved the ball from side to side in the hope of creating the space to get behind the Millers defence but Harvey’s team defended superbly, chasing, harrying, closing down and not allowing the home side much in the way of clear chances.

Carlton seemed happy to allow the Daniels to have space in midfield and to hit them on the counter attack when they won possession from them. Stamford for their part didn’t panic and continued to try and play their way back into the game. Morgan saw a shot excellently saved by Steggles and a dangerous cross was headed out of danger by Robinson.

Opoku had once again been causing the Daniels all sorts of problems and they moved the impressive left back Jack Keeble across to mark him. There followed a fair industrious tackle and some close quarter marking and, with Opoku on a yellow card, Harvey replaced him with Mamoke Akaunu to avoid the risk of a sending-off.

The closest Stamford came to scoring was on 75 minutes when Morgan’s shot was deflected onto a post with Steggles beaten.

Minutes later Steggles made another save from the striker as Carlton kept the home side at bay. Martin Ball was winning everything the home side threw at him and Maddison was still trying to play football when he could. Davie and Elliott gave everything in midfield and Brown and Robinson at full back dealt with the ever-present threat of Stamford’s tricky wide men.

As a result, even though they spent most of the half defending, Carlton always looked like they carried a threat and so it proved as they sealed the win with a third goal. Akaunu lifted the ball from the left to the right to find Smithson. He looked up and played a clever pass between the advancing defenders into the path of Blake and the striker slotted home in front of the ecstatic travelling fans.

Against a side who had won all but one of their games before this evening, this capped the best performance of the season so far from the revitalised Millers.

Carlton Town: Steggles, Brown, Fletcher (Robinson 20), Ball, Moore, Maddison, Smithson, Elliott (Marshall 78), Opoku (Akaunu 75), Blake, Davie. Unused subs: Stovell, Otim

Goals: Smithson 10, Moore 37, Blake 88

Carlton Town Supports Club MOTM: Martin Ball

Attendance: 189