A late winner for visitors Belper Town put an end to Carlton Town’s unbeaten home record on an emotional night at Stoke Lane.
A number of family members for legendary ex-President Bill Stokeld, in whose honour the stadium is named following his 50+ years at the club, were present at the ground as the club commemorated the life of Bill, who died 20 years ago this month. That commemoration took place just three days after current president Roger Smith, who took over from Bill in 2004, passed away. The minute’s silence before kick-off was impeccably observed.
Carlton made three changes to the side which lost at Emley last time out. Nat Watson and Niall Hylton were away. They were replaced by Khyle Sargent and Liam Moran. Michael Ford also came in for Shea Thompson-Harris. Belper featured former Carlton loanee Kieran Preston in their starting eleven.
Both sides came into the game on the back of defeats and Carlton started the brighter without troubling Preston. It was Belper who opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Harry Draper met a Paulo Aguas cross with a firm header that had too much power for Felix Annan.
The Millers responded well and equalised through the impressive Charlie Carter just 11 minutes later. A fine deep cross from Oliver Clark on the right caused some confusion amongst the Belper defence with Preston coming off his line to claim it only for Jack Broadhead to head weakly away. The ball bounced to Carter 25 yards from goal and he had the awareness to place a looping header beyond the stranded Preston and into the net.
Carter and Moran were combining well as Carlton took the game to the Nailers and Clark hit one effort over the bar after Lewis Durow had crossed and Morna had knocked the ball into Clark’s path. Moments later Annan began a move by rolling the ball to Durow. He played it forward to Clark who sped down the left before hitting a superb strike that drew an excellent save from Preston. From the resulting corner Alex Howes headed the ball into the area and Carter fired just wide.
Annan had to be alert to cut out a dangerous Belper cross before a clever 1-2 between Carter and Moran saw the former hit a shot that was comfortably saved.
With the game deep into first half added time Niall Davie sent in a delightful free kick from the right towards the back post. Clark came rushing in and looked all set to score before he was bundled to the ground by Draper. It looked a clear penalty but the referee wasn’t interested and instead blew the half time whistle.
Neither side was giving an inch and this continued in the second half, which was a more even affair. It was scrappy at times as both teams were unable to keep possession due to the relentless pressing by their opponents. Durow hit one good shot for Carlton that was saved by Preston and Dan Brown made a couple of superb intercepting tackles to thwart Nailers attacks.
Dean Freeman was dealing with the aerial threat but in truth the teams were cancelling each other out. Preston made another save midway through the half from Moran and when Belper raced away on the counter it took an excellent tackle from Sargent to prevent a clear run on goal.
Davie and Durow combined over a short throw-in routine and Davie’s dangerous cross was picked off by Preston with substitute Luca Alonzi waiting to pounce. Minutes later Sargent hit an audacious 30-yard effort that was only just wide.
With just two minutes of normal time remaining Belper won it. The ball was knocked into the area a couple of times after Carlton failed to clear and Draper reacted quickest to prod the ball past Annan to the delight of the travelling support.
Carlton tried to get a second equaliser but the closest they came was a Durow cross that was headed away by Aguas as the Nailers saw out the five added minutes.
Carlton Town: F Annan, M Ford, L Durow, D Brown, D Freeman, C Carter, N Davie, K Sargent (L Gorman 86), L Moran (L Alonzi 72), O Clark, A Howes (N Saunders 79). Unused subs: S Thompson-Harris, L Manneh
Goals: C Carter 26; Harry Draper 15, 88
Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Charlie Carter
Att: 206
