Martin converted from close range after the Millers failed to clear a corner. And that proved to be enough in a controversial encounter where Carlton finished with nine men and were denied a couple of clear-looking penalties. The Students themselves finished with 10 men in a game where there was barely a bad tackle.

Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey named an unchanged side for the third successive match. The additional substitutes allowed in the FA Cup meant places for the returning Tyler Blake and Niall Hylton on the bench.

Carlton started slowly and Martin’s goal gave the step 5 visitors a great start to the game. They kept pushing forward and a quick move on 11 minutes saw Matthew Bowman fire just over the bar.

Carlton’s first attack saw a dangerous cross from Lewis Durow cleared by the Scholars.

Carlton’s first penalty claim came on 28 minutes when goalkeeper Jake Alley floored Jack Deakin as he punched a Lawrence Gorman free kick clear, but the referee, well-positioned, wasn’t interested.

Martin Ball then played the ball forward to Brad Wells. William Mycroft-Edwards missed the ball completely allowing Wells a clear run at goal, but the striker took one touch too many and Alley was able to dive at his feet and snuff out the danger.

Shortly afterwards Deakin outpaced Sidney Kerr but his shot lacked power and Alley gathered comfortably.

Back came the Students and Bowman hit a fierce angled drive that was palmed away by Mikey Emery in the Carlton goal.

Wells and Khyle Sargent then caused Kerr to lose the ball on the edge of the box but Wells miscued his effort from a great position.

On 40 minutes Wells saw a shot blocked after Sargent had flicked on a Durow throw, and Ball’s follow up effort was saved by Alley.

With the game in first half stoppage time the referee awarded a free kick just inside the Carlton half after Gorman was adjudged to have committed a foul, even though it looked as if he had won the ball cleanly. Worse was to follow as the referee showed Gorman a yellow card, his second of the game, and he was sent off to the surprise of the majority of the crowd.

The Millers switched to three at the back for the second half and brought on Hylton and Daryll Thomas and, in truth, the fact they were a player short was not evident at all. Indeed, their general performance was improved in the second period as they put Loughborough under pressure as they sought an equaliser.

The Scholars defended very well though and Alley had very little to do in terms of saving shots on target.

Ball headed a Hylton corner just over the bar on 55 minutes and shortly afterwards Wells just couldn’t force the ball over the line after Ball had headed on a Durow throw.

At the other end Finlay Brennan hit an angled drive inches wide of the far post. That was a fairly rare Loughborough second half attack as Dan Brown and Ball kept the visitors at bay.

There was a lengthy delay on 72 minutes when Alley and Hylton collided with the goalkeeper needing treatment and shortly after play resumed, Alley was knocked to the floor by his own centre half Kerr. Thomas tried to get in a shooting position with the goal gaping but the Scholars were able to clear, before another lengthy treatment stoppage.

With 10 minutes remaining Carlton were denied what looked to most observers like the clearest penalty you could wish to see. A throw in was only partially cleared. Alex Howes got to the lose ball ahead of Brennan and the left back took him out. Both referee and linesman had a clear view but again neither were interested.

Still Carlton pushed forward and Howes played a lovely ball into Wells but a combination of three defenders dealt with the danger.

On 90 minutes Brennan was sent off for Loughborough for kicking the ball away after Carlton were awarded a free kick. Nonetheless the Scholars came desperately close to sealing the win when substitute Josh Bailey saw his effort tipped onto the post by Emery.

The referee had signalled 8 minutes of added time but there was a further delay when Martin Ball said something to the referee and was sent off within that period.

As such, the game was in the 10th minute of added time when Carlton had a glorious chance to take the tie to a replay. Nat Watson and Wells combined to send the ball to Durow on the left. His cross found Thomas unmarked 12 yards from goal but he lashed his effort over the bar and the final chance of the game had gone.

Carlton Town: M Emery, L Gorman, L Durow, M Ball, D Brown, K Tomlin (N Davie 67), N Watson, K Sargent (N Hylton 46), B Wells, J Deakin (D Thomas 46), A Howes. Unused substitutes: R Stainsby, D Freeman, T Blake, R Tait

Goals: Luke Martin 2

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM – Dan Brown

Att: 102