Chasetown FC returned to winning ways with an impressive victory over high-flying Carlton Town, though the scoreline was closer than perhaps it should have been.
The away side started positively enough and within 90 seconds of the kick off, Sammy Macvicar forced Ryan Price into an early save to signal their intent.
However, Chasetown had other ideas and took control of the game and when they went in front in the 12th minute it was no more than they deserved. Danny Bragoli rolled the ball into Paul Sullivan who had plenty to do but he turned on a sixpence and fired an unstoppable shot into the roof of Curtis McDonald’s net.
Craig Harris’ men were good value for the lead and had a golden chance to make it 2-0 just after the midway point of the first half. Craig Bannister got on the end of a through ball from midfield and as McDonald advanced, Bannister tried to get his shot away only to be denied by a top class save.
If that stop was good, McDonald surpassed it two minutes later, beating away a powerful effort from Jack Farmer on the edge of the area which had goal written all over it until the Millers’ keeper pulled off another fantastic stop.
Three minutes after the restart it was Bannister versus McDonald take two as the Scholars striker looked destined to net but somehow the Carlton keeper made himself big and kept it out at his near post.
Then, just over a minute later, Bannister would have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be his day. Chasing a ball as McDonald advanced, Bannister finally got the ball beyond the Town keeper as McDonald clattered into his own defender. It looked a certainty that the number nine would get there first to tap the ball into an empty net but, out of nowhere, Lee Torr retreated to get there first and clear the danger.
A quarter of an hour from the end, Chasetown finally doubled their lead and Bannister finally got his goal. Carlton’s defence was all at sea as Simon Brown found the striker who steered the ball beyond McDonald and over the head of strike partner Sullivan on the line.
Carlton’s players were adamant that Sullivan was in an offside position in the centre of the goal, but after consultation with his assistant, the referee concluded that Sullivan had not touched the ball, was not interfering with play and the goal was allowed to stand.
The visitors responded with a late goal from substitute Joe Brothwell across keeper Price to dent what would otherwise have been a perfect victory with a clean sheet, but it was too little too late for the Nottinghamshire side.
Chasetown almost added a third in the dying seconds when Chris Slater had a chance inside the area and was no more than an inch away from this third ever goal in Scholars colours.
Chasetown: Price, Farmer, Beckett, Slater, Tesfa Robinson, Halsall, Brown, Bragoli, Bannister (Smith, 89 mins), Sullivan, D Bennett (Westwood, 90+3 mins). Subs not used: Williams, Wellecomme, Stephens.
Carlton Town: McDonald, Anderson, Brindley (B Bennett, 77 mins), Troke, Torr, Ball, Thornton, Elliot, Macvicar, Vilums (Brothwell, 60 mins), Flynn (Bailey, 60 mins). Sub not used: Keane.
Click below to see more of Pamela Mullins’ pictures from the game:
