RELEGATION PLAYOFFS THE BEST HOPE FOR MILLERS AFTER LATEST DEFEAT AT STOKE LANE.

Everything was set for a Carlton Town change of fortune, the atmosphere in the Howard Mitchell Sportsbar was electric prior to kick off after positive messages from the club and management after a brilliant midweek workout against Afc Mansfield.

Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United legend Frank Clark pictured watching the game with another Forest legend Ian Storey-Moore was the perfect special guest for this fixture and got an outstanding ovation from both sets of supporters as he was interviewed by Millers Chairman Mick Garton prior to kick off.

Carlton started the game on the front foot and only brilliant goalkeeping kept the Millers at bay early on, but they did deservedly take the lead through a Dean Freeman header and when North Shields went down to ten men soon after, a positive change of fortune looked on the cards for the Millers going into half time.

Carlton fans were hoping the good work from the first half would be built on during the second half, but sadly for Carlton, the opposite happened, Carlton went into their shell , sat far to deep and looked nervous when on the ball and North Shields stepped up to the plate and then some.

The ten men of North Shields got a steam up and an unfortunate own goal from a Carlton perspective brought them level, North Shields pushed forward for a winner , but then the Millers had a really good spell of pressure after that, but once again could not hit the target and not for the first time this season, got caught on the break in a pivotal moment . Yes the shot that did for them was deflected and they hit the crossbar in injury time, but the reality is another home defeat.

The best chance of Step 4 survival now seems to lay with a win in a one off relegation playoff game given the teams around Carlton once again picked up crucial points.

Tommy asked the Chairman after the game if the commitee wanted the management team to stand down, something he eluded to in his interview with Carlton Town Tv, there is still a strong view that in a one off play off game, Tommy and Mark would be the management team the club would want in the dugout and there is also the small matter of the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup Final they have led the team to again.

The Elephant in the room is of course Tadcaster who looked doomed a week or two back , but they seemed to have turned a corner and are now only 5 points behind the 19th placed Millers.

Carlton Town’s Nat Watson spoke to Carlton Town Tv after this latest gut wrenching defeat and his interview with Josh Hodgson is below.

Finally, massive credit to the North Shields supporters who traveled down and were part of the 161 at the Bill Stokeld stadium, they were on great form and a massive credit to their club.

Weather permitting, Carlton travel all the way to Hebburn on Tuesday night and a coach will be leaving the ground at around 2-15pm , supporters are invited to travel at a cost of £15 return, contact Alan Murphy through the fans website or telephone Boatsy on 07907 064189 if u wish to make the journey with the team.