Carlton Town 0-0 Histon (Northern Premier League Midlands Division) 06.11.21
Carlton Town were held to a disappointing goalless draw by struggling Histon.
Louis Czerwak went closest for the home side when his injury time corner struck the bar but the Millers could have no complaints about only securing a point. The Stutes clearly came determined not to concede but they also created moments of danger themselves and Carlton were grateful to goalkeeper Kieran Preston on more than one occasion.
Preston was one of two changes to the side which progressed in the FA Trophy against Kidsgrove last time out with Tyler Johal also returning to the side. Jack Steggles and Martin Ball were the players replaced.
Carlton started well and pinned Histon back in their own half in the opening 10 minutes. The Millers’ best opening of the half came on just eight minutes when a clever quick free kick from Nat Watson to Niall Davie saw Davie cross to Tyler Blake but the striker could only steer his shot wide of target from six yards.
Lawrence Gorman then played a lovely ball into the Histon penalty area but the visiting defence cleared.
The visitors came into the game bottom of the table with only one win all season and they had clearly set up to keep players behind the ball. However, given their league position that was perfectly understandable and it was up to Carlton to deal with, which in general they failed to do.
Histon were not content to just soak up pressure but they also offered a threat on the counter-attack and from one such break on 12 minutes they managed to get two-on-two with captain Ed Rolph drawing a superb save from Preston, diving low to his left to keep out Rolph’s effort.
Shortly afterwards Rhys Thorpe his a shot which Preston did well to keep out.
Another quick Watson free kick saw Gorman cross into the area but Histon cleared and broke quickly once again, only to be denied by some excellent Johal defending.
Early in the second half a Thorpe free kick was deflected wide before Carlton created a chance that really should have led to a goal. A super pass from Davie sent Kieran Knight clean through on goal but goalkeeper Sam Roach was able to save his goal-bound shot. From the resulting corner Histon gained possession and once again counter-attacked at pace with Thorpe then going one-on-one only to be denied by another fine Preston save.
Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey made a double substitution midway through the half, bringing on Aaron Opoku and Louis Czerwak to pep up the attack. Czerwak was involved straight away and having picked up a loose ball in midfield he ran at goal and shot just wide of the post.
Toby Moore and Dan Brown were having their usual fine games at the back, with Histon in general restricted to the odd dangerous counter attack. Carlton though continued to give the ball away cheaply in marked contrast to most of their displays this season. As a result, clear chances were at a premium.
Czerwak attacked down the left and crossed for Watson whose shot was cleared for a corner. Moments later Czerwak advanced before being taken out completely by goalkeeper Roach outside the area, with the keeper earning a merited yellow card.
Khyle Sargent was having a quietly efficient game in midfield and he fired just wide after some good play by Opoku as time started to run out.
By now it was all Carlton with some (understandable) dubious time wasting by the Stutes as they looked to preserve their point. Carlton almost made them pay when in the second minute of the five minutes added time Czerwak’s in-swinging corner from the left beat Roach, crashed against the cross bar and was cleared.
Second later Blake was sent clean through on goal but he tried to hit his shot early and didn’t catch it right, leading to a comfortable save for Roach.
Still Carlton attacked and after being awarded a free kick on the half way line in the last minute of added time up stepped Preston. His delivery was heading for goal until Roach tipped it over the bar. Opoku fired over the top from the resulting corner and there was still enough time for one final Histon attack, with Czerwak doing well to block the final shot of the game.
It was a disappointing outcome for the majority of the crowd, and had Carlton won they would have pointed to having had the majority of possession and the majority of chances. Nonetheless, there was every reason to feel that Histon deserved something out of the game for the effort they had put in and for the genuine quality of their counter-attacks.
Carlton Town: Preston, Gorman, Johal, Brown, Moore, Maddison (Holmes 72), Watson, Sargent, Knight (Opoku 60), Blake, Davie (Czerwak 60).
*Article provided by Sky Blue Miller.
*Main image @CTFC1904 it wasn’t to be three for Carlton who were held at home by Histon.
