THAT MAN STEGGLES DOES IT AGAIN HAS MILLERS MAKE HISTORY !
Carlton Town have reached the first round proper of the FA Trophy for the first time in the club’s 117 year history and once again it was that man Jack Steggles who stepped up to the plate with two outstanding penalty shoot out saves at the death.
In a fiesty contest that swung backwards and forwards, Carlton took the lead close to half time through Tyler Blake, but the lead was short lived has Kidsgrove equalised on the Stoke of half time with a far post header from Kieran Brown.
Carlton brought on Arron Opoku for the start of the second half and his excellent pressing created the opportunity for the impressive Nat Watson to give Carlton the lead. Back came Anthony Malbon who always scores against the Millers and he made it 2-2.
The Carlton players argued that the whole ball had not crossed the line and Niall Davey who looked as though he may have made a successful clearance was particularly incensed and opinions were divided around the ground on the decision, but a goal it was and the next goal would likely win the game.
Backwards and forwards, the game flowed and to be fair could have gone either way, with goal line scrambles at both ends and that winning goal for either side never came.
So penalty shootout time again, enter the big stage, enter the man Jack Steggles! Carlton Town Joint manager Tommy Brookbanks told his players, score your penalties and I guarantee you Stegs will save one or two to get us over the line.
For the Millers, Tom Maddison, Tyler Blake and Nat Watson scored the first 3, matching the efforts of their Kidsgrove counterparts and in fairness, Jack was no where near any of them, but then he spectacularly sprung to his left to save penalty number 4 and when Arron Opoku smashed his effort into the roof of the net to put the Millers 4-3 in front, another save from Jack would see the Millers home and he duly obliged with a fantastic save with his feet.
A massive thankyou to our sponsors, Times Furnishings the Match sponsors who voted Jack Steggles their man of the match , not only for his penalty saves, but also one or two key saves, particularly late in the game.
Councillor wilkinson our Matchball Sponsor voted Nat Watson, his man of the match and Nat spoke to Carlton Town Tv after the game along with Joint manager Mark Harvey and their interviews and the highlights will be on Carlton Town Tv in the coming week. Both players were presented with their prizes on the club’s pitch side patio after the game.
Chairman Mick Garton also caught up with Nottingham Forest legend Colin Barrett who was the club’s very special Matchday guest, in an exclusive interview also on the club’s patio and that interview is now down loaded to our you tube channel, Carlton Town Tv.
The club now await the big cup draw on Monday and a full report of a fantastic Firework Extravaganza on Friday will also follow in the coming days, it has been a very good weekend at Stoke Lane!
