In a match that was at times made farcical due to the ridiculously strong wind, the Millers looked to be cruising with two Nat Watson goals inside the opening 13 minutes. But Ollerton fought back to level the tie before the hour mark and only an Aaron O’Connor strike late on secured the win for the Millers.

Carlton made six changes to the side which had won at Spalding last time out. In came Tyler Johal, Toby Moore, Jared Holmes, Danny Elliott and Kieran Knight for Daniel Fletcher, Martin Ball Tom Maddison, Tyler Blake and O’Connor. The sixth change was in goal where Mark Rathbone was cup-tied so recently signed loanee from Boston Utd Jake Frestle made his debut.

The Ollerton team included ex-Miller Connor Green and amongst the spectators was former goalkeeper Jack Steggles.

On an exposed pitch, the surface of which held up well despite recent heavy rain, Carlton had the wind at their backs in the first half. “Wind” is an understatement – it was a gale that at times made the match virtually unplayable as Ollerton struggled to get the ball to go forwards.

Watson almost caught out goalkeeper Marcus Coombs on eight minutes when his 50-yard chip just went wide of the post.

That was merely Watson getting his eye in as three minutes later he picked up a poor clearance and lobbed Coombs from 25 yards to open the scoring.

Almost immediately afterwards Watson doubled Carlton’s lead with a superb free kick from the edge of the box after Knight was fouled by Jake Squires.

At that stage it was all Carlton but Ollerton fought their way back into the match creditably. There were a couple of lengthy stoppages for injuries to George Slack and Khyle Sargent, with the latter being replaced by Sonny Shaw making his first team debut.

Green almost pulled a goal back shortly before half time when he fired over the bar after a good Ollerton move and Frestle had to be alert to deny the home side on a couple of occasions.

Watson then played a lovely ball to Niall Davie who hit a superb cross into the area but no-one was on hand to convert.

The Millers had to play into the wind in the second half and the game changed completely. Green shot just wide from a good position as the home side pushed forward and they pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when Jacques Etia rifled into the roof of the net from the right hand side of the penalty area.

Two minutes later Ollerton were level. A throw in found its way to Sean Dickinson and he steered the ball past Frestle from 12 yards.

The home side, who play their football two levels below the Millers, were clearly on top at this stage and they forced a series of corners. Fortunately for Carlton they overhit every single one of them, no doubt because of the wind, and they all drifted harmlessly out of play.

Carlton regrouped and brought on Maddison and O’Connor and the latter had an almost immediate effect with a surging run down the right leading to a shot just over the bar.

With 11 minutes remaining O’Connor sealed the win for the visitors. Watson played another delightful pass to send O’Connor away on the left. He still had plenty to do, running into the wind and with Squires alongside him. But he held off the defender, slipped past him and then, with the angle getting worse, fired across Coombs and into the corner of the net. It was an excellent goal and was celebrated enthusiastically by the numerous travelling fans behind the goal.

Ollerton had a late chance when Johal trod on the ball and Etia ran through but he fired wide and the Millers were able to see out the closing stages reasonably comfortably.

Carlton Town: J Frestle, L Gorman, T Johal, D Brown, T Moore, J Holmes, K Sargent (S Shaw 35), D Elliott (T Maddison 71), K Knight (A O’Connor 71), N Watson, N Davie. Unused substitutes: M Ball, D Thomas

Goals: N Watson 11, 13, A O’Connor 79; Jacques Etia 55, Sean Dickinson 57

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM – Nat Watson

Att: 115