CARLTON TOWN IN THE SEMI FINAL AFTER HARD FOUGHT WIN IN THE SENIOR CUP AT STOKE LANE !

A late goal for the impressive Khyle Sargent who is pictured took Carlton Town into the Semi final of the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup as they defeated Dunkirk 1-0 at Stoke Lane in front of a disappointing crowd of only 71 at Stoke Lane.

Those that did attend the game were able to enjoy a feisty encounter and Dunkirk came out in the first half with all guns blazing, they were in Carlton’s faces and will be disappointed to have gone in at half time without a goal to show for their endeavours.

The second half was a different story indeed as Carlton woke up to the fact they have a trophy to defend and the best way to do that was to get on the front foot and how!

Carlton dominated the second half with Dunkirk’s best chance a break away goal as the Millers threw bodies forward to try and get the vital goal to take themselves into the Semi Finals.

Chances went a begging, there was a couple of fines saves from the Dunkirk keeper, one chance flashed across the Dunkirk 6 yard box with Brad Wells a whisker away and both Dan Brown and Sargent made vital interceptions as Dunkirk threatened on the counter punch.

Carlton finally got their rewards when a glancing header by Khyle Sargent from a corner found the back of the net on 86 minutes and Carlton then had to withstand some late pressure from the visitors, there were pleasantries (not so much) exchanged by the dugouts in the final seconds as Dunkirk battled to take it to penalties, but the final whistle sounded and the Millers were through to the semi Finals.

Tommy Brookbanks had received some ribbing that despite his superb record at the club, he had never won the Senior Cup for the club, something that Les McJanett achieved twice and Wayne Scott once, but Tommy and Mark can point to the fact that since they jumped into the hot seats at Stoke Lane, to date they have an unbeaten run in the competition. In 2019, they led the Millers to the Semi Final and were set to take on Newark in the Semi Final at Stoke Lane before Covid struck and in 2020 the competition did not take place, again due to Covid and in 2021, the management duo won it and now in 2022, the club are once again in the Semi Finals.

Congratulations today also to our Academy who beat Mickleover 1-0 at Stoke Lane and we will have lots of news updates in the coming days.

A food Bank , a big home fixture on Saturday 10th December v Bridlington, the Christmas Draw and a thrilling local Derby to look forward to on Boxing Day against the team who could be top of the league and a little bird tells us there is even a world exclusive interview at the ground on Christmas Day, we wonder who that could be with, watch this space !