Carlton Town 4-3 Gedling Miners Welfare (Notts FA Senior Cup Round Two) 30.11.21
A last-minute penalty from captain Tom Maddison saw Carlton Town beat Gedling Miners Welfare 4-3 in the Notts Senior Cup.
The defeat was harsh on the Miners, who twice hit the woodwork and for long spells more than matched opponents who play their football two steps higher in the pyramid. But although Carlton were nowhere near their best, they had twice taken the lead and by the end had just about done enough to earn the win.
Carlton made eight changes, some enforced, others voluntary, to the side which had beaten Corby Town last time out. Into the side came Toby Randall, back at the club after a recent spell at Barrow Town, Daniel Fletcher, Toby Moore, Maddison, James Matthews, Danny Elliott, Daryll Thomas and Louis Czerwak. Out went Kieran Preston, Tyler Johal, Martin Ball, Jared Holmes, Khyle Sargent, Aaron Opoku, Tyler Blake and Alex Howes.
Gedling featured ex-Millers Josh Thornton, Felix Hogg and Ruben Wiggins-Thomas in their starting eleven.
In front of a fine crowd of 143, which included Carlton’s former Senior Cup winning managers Les McJannett and Wayne Scott, it was Miners who started the sharper with Thornton hitting the post on seven minutes with a volley from a corner.
The visitors were forced to make two early substitutions due to injury, with Hogg amongst the players replaced. And it was Carlton who opened the scoring on the half hour when Miners failed to clear a Czerwak corner and Maddison fired past Matt Simpson with the help of a deflection.
Six minutes later Gedling were deservedly level. A fine run down the right by Nial Hylton saw him feed Wiggins-Thomas who cut into the area and unleashed a powerful drive across Randall and into the net.
Two minutes into the second half the United Counties League side went ahead when Rhys Harbottle found himself unmarked to head home a cross from the left.
Carlton responded and Nat Watson hit a long range effort over the bar before the Millers levelled on 52 minutes. Toby Moore played a lovely ball to Watson. His cross was met with a powerful strike from Maddison which struck the right hand post, with Thomas rolling back the years to convert the rebound ahead of Thornton.
If Miners were dejected they didn’t show it as they attacked straight from the restart and Craig Meakin hit a tremendous drive which thudded against the post with Randall beaten. Carlton were able to clear and soon afterwards regained the lead with another deflected goal.
Maddison and Czerwak combined to play the ball to Matthews and his 25-yard shot struck a trailing leg, looped over the stranded Simpson and nestled in the back of the net.
Carlton were then forced into making substitutions due to injury leading to a debut for reserve striker Syme Mulhanny.
Gedling pushed forward for the equaliser and duly got it on 80 minutes. A deep cross from the left saw Randall come to claim, only to be beaten to the ball by Wiggins-Thomas who headed into an empty net for his second of the game.
With the game heading towards a penalty shoot out Carlton pushed for the winner. With a couple of minutes remaining a lovely ball from Maddison sent Mulhanny away on the right. Simpson came rushing out and Mulhanny took it away from him. He crossed to Watson who attempted to steer the ball into the net but Miners cleared to the Carlton left.
Johal then knocked the ball back into the area where Charlie Roberts needlessly shoved Maddison to the ground. It was a clear penalty and Maddison rifled the spot kick into the roof of the net to secure a quarter-final spot for the Millers and break the Miners’ hearts.
Carlton Town: Randall, Gorman, Fletcher, Brown, Moore (Ball 68), Maddison, Matthews, Elliott, Thomas (Mulhanny 71), Watson, Czerwak (Johal 64).
Gedling Miners Welfare: Simpson, Roberts, Corrigan, Meakin, Thornton, Hogg, Appiah, Mason, Papworth, Wiggins-Thomas, Hylton.
Venue: Bill Stokeld Stadium (143)
*Article provided by Sky Blue Miller.
*Main image @CTFC1904 Tom Maddison celebrates his late winner from the spot.
