Potts returns but Carlton Town suffer fifth straight defeat.
Even the returning Lee Potts couldn’t help steer Carlton Town away from their bad run of form on Saturday. The Millers also welcomed striker Courtney Hastings into the squad, another young man snapped up from local Northern Counties East – Premier Division side Basford United.
Carlton started the game poorly and the first half was controlled largely by the visitors. It only took 6 minutes for Kidsgrove to get off the mark. A ball down the inside right channel released Shane Reaney in a seemingly disadvantageous position, but he finished delightfully, holding off Carlton centre half Lee Torr and lashing a first time effort over the head of Curtis McDonald.
From that point onwards, Carlton were lacklustre and had to rely on McDonald pulling off a couple of top-drawer reflex saves to keep them in the game. The evidence of any real game plan was lacking, as the defence simply punted the ball upfield at every opportunity towards the man-mountain Sam MacVicar. Despite the 23 year old having a height advantage against the majority of Kidsgrove’s back four, a lot of his work was to no avail, as he was either charged down in possession, or the flick ons for the likes of Reuben Wiggins-Thomas and Jordan Vilums were wayward.
Veteran left midfielder Wayne Corden (formerly of Mansfield) impressed throughout and achieved great success against an indecisive, shaky and frankly very poor Kallum Keane. Despite his age, Corden proved he still has ability and left the right back bamboozled on countless occasions with his trickery.
The second half was a very different story and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were watching two completely different teams. After a couple of early run-ins, Kidsgrove faced a hell of a lot of pressure as the half progressed. The versatile Markel Bailey – on for the injured Danny Elliott (hamstring) – tested Daniel Read 10 minutes into the second period, as he cut inside from the left wing and smashed a shot towards goal, from just outside the box. The effort took a bobble on the way through, forcing the ‘keeper to tip it out for a corner.
Carlton created plenty of chances in the second half generally, but were frustrated on many an occasion by the ball simply just not falling for them in the right areas or the goalkeeper pulling off two or three magnificent saves.
The introduction of Joe Brothwell in the 65th minute was a huge one, as he dominated the right flank time and time again. His pace and agility proved too much for The Grove back line and with assistant manager Iain McCulloch encouraging him from the home dugout, he was well and truly fired up. His delivery with either foot was impressive and when Wiggins-Thomas fired a close-range effort over the bar from Brothwell’s cross in the 70th minute, it went some way to summing up The Millers’ unfortunate afternoon.
Wiggins-Thomas’ strike partner Sam MacVicar was isolated for long periods, but fashioned and created opportunities in the final 20 minutes, forcing a corner on 70′ with a driven effort and later on, nodding across goal for Wiggins-Thomas to strike against the bar. He also saw a 90th minute effort palmed away by Read in the Kidsgrove goal.
Town’s inability to switch on from the start means The Millers drop down to 9th in the First Division South, in desperate need of a win. Manager Les McJannet was visibly disappointed and distraught at the end of the game and understandably doesn’t believe he’s getting a full 90 minutes’ effort from all of his players. Although, it must be said that on this second half showing, a turnaround doesn’t seem so far away.
Teams:
Carlton: Curtis McDonald; Kallum Keane, Lee Torr, Martin Ball, Billy Bennett; Danny Elliott, Alexander Troke, Lee Potts; Reuben Wiggins-Thomas, Sam MacVicar, Jordan Vilums.
Used subs: Markel Bailey, Joe Brothwell, Courtney Hastings.
Kidsgrove: Daniel Read; Ashley Whitehead, Paul Taylor, Chris Smith, Matt Haddrell; Phil Parkinson, Kevin Street, Michael Carr, Wayne Corden; Tom Wakefield, Shane Reaney.
Under The Floodlights 