Match Report: Carlton Town vs. Stamford, 17th Aug 2011

With neither Lee Beeson nor Miles Chamberlain fit, and Jake Gibson, still on holiday it was a completely unchanged squad and starting eleven from the win on Saturday.

Carlton started strongly and, after nine minutes, Mario Ziccardi had to dive to his left to get fingertips to the ball to turn away a curling 25 yard shot from Terry Hawkridge. A minute later a clearance from Rob Maddox was charged down and the ball fell straight to Robert Gill. His snap shot forced another great save from Ziccardi diving to his left again. Carlton took the lead they deserved after 15 minutes with another long range shot from Hawkridge which this time curled past Ziccardi into the top corner.

Stamford threatened the Carlton goal for the first time a couple of minutes later when a miss hit cross from Dan Cotton very nearly fooled Danny Marshall who in the end managed to flap the ball away. Stamford were trying to get into the game but Carlton were much the livelier and never gave Stamford chance to settle chasing and harrying the player in possession.

On the half hour there was a real scramble as Ziccardi twice tried to grab the ball but was foiled by Carlton pressure each time until the ball was finally cleared for a corner by Tom Land. The corner was completely scuffed along the ground but Ashley Kitchen, expecting an inswinger, was alert to sweep the ball home.

Two minutes later Stamford came their closest to scoring when a Carlton defender headed a Cotton free kick behind his own defence but the ball eluded first Greg Smith and then Michael Jacklin. A minute later a poor back header from Chris Gray missed the Stamford defenders behind him and set up Gill but with just Ziccardi to beat he shot much too soon and pulled it well wide.

There were only five minutes left when Stamford had their first genuine chance when Matt Cook and Sam Mullarkey combined well but the shot from Mullarkey was always rising over the bar.

Carlton wasted another glorious chance in stoppage time when Hawkridge was left unmarked but, under no pressure, he somehow shot yards wide of the target. 2-0 at half time was a bit of a let off for Stamford who had been second best for most of the half. When they managed to get the ball, a long ball forward to Smith was easily dealt with by the Carlton defence.

Stamford needed a good start to get back into the game and Cotton delivered driving a poor defensive header past Marshall. The goal lifted Stamford and they had their best move of the game so far on the hour. Smith at last beat the Carlton centre backs and first held up the ball well before squaring it for Mullarkey to run onto. His run took him past the outside of two defenders but his shot rose to clear the bar with Marshall beaten.

Although Stamford were working hard and were back in the game, Carlton always looked dangerous. A quick break led to a shot from Ian Brown but it was blocked for a corner. From the corner, Josh Thornton headed home at the near post. Minutes later another Carlton corner, this time taken short followed by a deep cross was headed again by Thornton but this time the ball hit the top of the bar and out of play.

Stamford made a brace of changes bringing on Andy Toyne and Dean Oliver to lift the tempo and Stamford soon pulled a goal back. Dan Cotton charged down a Carlton clearance and played the ball to Mullarkey. He beat two players before unselfishly playing the ball straight into the path of Cotton who smashed the ball home to bring the game back to 3-2.

With five minutes left, Carlton, under strong pressure from Stamford, couldn’t get the ball out of their 18 yard area and it finally fell to Cotton. It was his easiest chance of the night but he snatched his shot and it went just inches wide of the post. That miss was to prove so costly as a minute later Massiah McDonald scored a fourth for Carlton.

The last threat of the night went to Stamford deep in stoppage time, when Danny Steadman delivered a great low hard cross, his first of the night. With Mullarkey lurking just in case, Marshall did well to hold the ball first time.

Over 90 minutes it was clearly the right result and Carlton could, and should, have won the game by half time. Stamford were much better in the second half and they came so close to having their efforts rewarded with what would have been a late equaliser. In the end they paid the price for a very poor first half.

Stamford: Mario Ziccardi, Matt Cook, Dan Barrett, Chris Gray, Tom Land (Danny Brooks 83), Michael Jacklin, Danny Steadman, Robbie Maddox (Andy Toyne 75), Greg Smith (Dean Oliver 75), Sam Mullarkey, Dan Cotton. Subs not used: Seth Burkett, Stuart King

MOM: Sam Mullarkey

Carlton: Danny Marshall, Rob Darkin, Dan Fletcher, Ryan Goward Curtis Shaw 83), Ashley Kitchen, Nick Hall, Josh Thornton, Terry Hawkridge, Robert Gill Massiah McDonald 71), Ian Brown Neil Grayson 74), Jermain Hollis. Subs not used: Aaron Large, Jack Davis