It was the second time this season the Millers have knocked the Daniels out of a cup, having won an FA Trophy tie at Stoke Lane back in October, and the win was fully deserved after a bright display at Stamford’s excellent new Borderville stadium.

Wayne Scott made three changes from the side which lost to Leek last time out. In came Fletcher, Romaine Graham and Jacob Sturgess in place of Kameron Campbell, Niall Davie and Anthony Dwyer.

Stamford began on the front foot and as early as the second minute Chris Bacon fired into the side netting from a tight angle.

Chris Hamilton then combined with Jordan Smith and the latter brought a decent save from Jack Steggles.

Considering the recent weather, the pitch looked in excellent condition and Carlton began to get a passing game going.

Their first opportunity came on nine minutes when Rae just failed to connect with a dangerous Gordon free kick.

Sturgess, Rae and Graham then interchanged some quick passes and Jonathan Hedge in the Stamford goal did well to save Rae’s shot.

At the other end Lee Beeson’s cross-field pass saw Jack Wightwick get goal-side of Matthew Newton and run clear on goal. Steggles did well to save the first shot but the ball fell to Bacon who looked certain to score. However his goal-bound shot was headed over the bar by Kieron Walker, covering excellently.

Carlton had a spell of playing unnecessary back-passes and when one of them fell short, Bacon advanced on goal. He held the ball up and fed the impressive Smith whose fierce shot across Steggles crashed against the post and rebounded to safety.

At this stage of the game Stamford were on top and when Steggles was caught coming too far out of his goal, only some wasteful passing by the home side prevented them from having an empty net to shoot at.

Carlton made them pay by opening the scoring on 29 minutes. Anthony Howell spread the ball wide to Newton on the right hand side. He sent over a deliciously swerving cross which was met by a combination of Graham, Romello Nangle and a couple of Stamford defenders. The ball ran loose and Rae was on hand to stab the ball home from ten yards.

Stamford almost levelled immediately when Smith headed Beeson’s free kick against the crossbar.

Nangle was starting to cause problems for the home side with his runs down the left and one of those led to a Gordon shot from 25 yards which was well held by Hedge.

Sturgess and Newton then combined with Newton crossing to Howell whose shot went just wide.

By this stage the Millers midfielders had control of the game and after Nangle was fouled, Rae headed a Gordon free kick just wide.

Just before half time Wightwick had a decent chance for Stamford after Carlton made a hash of clearing the ball, but he put his effort wide.

Stamford looked much sharper at the start of the second half and Bacon headed just wide form a Chris Hamilton cross.

The home side levelled on 50 minutes when Paul Malone headed home a Jake Duffy cross at the far post.

The expected siege never came and the game settled down into an even affair until the key moments in the 65th and 66th minutes.

First a nice ball sent Bacon clean through on Steggles’s goal. The keeper spread himself wide and Bacon tried to go round him but he sent the ball too far and Newton was able to force him away from goal. It turned out to be a crucial miss.

Newton won possession, played the ball upfield and it was played from right to left, ending with Fletcher on the left hand side.

There seemed little on for the left back so he unleashed a ferocious shot form 25 yards which swerved and flew into the corner of the net past Hedge. It was a tremendous way to score his first goal for Carlton since August 2009 and will have pleased his father, watching in the smart main stand.

The goal inspired the visitors and they took complete control of the match. Nangle ran onto a Gordon pass and on another day may have been awarded a penalty after some clumsy defending.

Rae then did well on the right before feeding Nangle whose 20 yard strike fizzed against the crossbar.

The win was sealed 11 minutes from time with another 25 yard strike, this time from Gordon. Rae had sent over a great cross to Nangle. It was only half-cleared and when the loose ball fell to Gordon he lashed a shot which struck the post and cannoned against Hedge before nestling in the net.

Sturgess and Graham combined to create another chance for Gordon whose effort was inches wide before Rae also fired just wide across the face of goal after good work by Graham.

Sam Hill had one final chance for Stamford but his shot went over the bar and for the second time in three seasons the Millers won a third round league cup tie 3-1 at the home of the Daniels.

Carlton Town: Steggles, Newton, Fletcher, McConway, Walker, Sturgess Nangle, Howell, Graham, Rae, Gordon. Unused substitutes: Hodgett-Young, Wholey, Lusamba

Goals: Rae 29, Fletcher 66, Gordon 79

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM – Daniel Fletcher.

Attendance: 83