Report

The Stan’s undefeated run of 10 points from 4 games came to a sudden & unexpected end against mid table Carlton Town. It was a poor performance from the Stan against an average team but one that took their chances. There were 2 changes from last week’s important draw at Emley with Slaughter & Lamb replacing Burn & Hopper.

Both teams started positively, including with Lamb pressing, but the 1^st chance wasn’t until the 4^th minute when a Carlton free kick came to nothing. Groves then sent a free kick into the box but Capewell’s shot, after a touch on from Turnbull, was blocked for a corner which then went wide. In the 9^th minute, a Carlton attack saw the ball deflected for a corner which then saw the ball being cleared twice. The ball then seemed to remain mainly in the middle of the park until some Carlton pressure in the 16^th minute which ended with a curling shot from the edge of the Stan box which went just wide. The Stan were not holding onto the ball even though they were winning it. In the 20^th minute Errington advanced passing to Walker on the right who kept the ball in & supplied Evans who was blocked for a corner. Groves corner ball went straight to the keeper. Carlton then shot well over. In 23 minutes, A Groves free kick into the box was headed clear & the ball went but back in but was cleared again. In 26 minutes, a Carlton free kick was initially cleared but a rebound shot which was blasted from outside the box was put over the bar by a great stretching save by Brass. In the 27^th minute, Brass blocked the ball from the corner with his feet but he couldn’t collect it & it was forced into the net by Sargent from the resulting scramble for 0-1. In 29 minutes, Errington was blocked as he entered the Carlton box but only a foul was given in the D. The resulting Grove free kick went straight through the wall to the visiting keeper. 3 minutes later a Carlton free kick was cleared followed by a Grove free kick being caught by the Carlton keeper. Carlton then had a free kick cleared with the long shot rebound effort being deflected for a corner. In 37 minutes, Brass got down to save from a free kick. There was then a great chance for the Stan when Walker on the right crossed on the bye line into the box to Lamb in front of goal with only the keeper to beat but he couldn’t make contact with the ball. Both teams were trying to attack & after both keepers had easily cleared, the half ended with a Stan free kick going well wide.

The 1^st 3 minutes of the 2^nd half saw the ball mainly in the Stan half. In the 50th minute Carlton shot just wide. 3 minutes later & a ball from a Carlton corner went well wide. In the 55^th minute, Hopper replaced Lamb & Burn replaced Payne. Unfortunately, this was followed immediately by Carlton getting a 2^nd goal in the 56th minute. The ball from a Carlton free kick bounced awkwardly & went past Brass & into the net. The Stan were back under pressure & didn’t get their 1^st chance of the half until 60 minutes when Evans sent a good ball forward but Walker couldn’t get on the end of it. Errington then sent a free kick into the Carlton box, but their keeper easily collected it. In 65 minutes, Brass had to go out to clear. Both teams were still trying to attack but the Stan’s passing & ball control was letting them down. In the 69^th minute, Carlton were 3-0 up when a ball from the left into the Stan box was put into the net under pressure by Manneh. In 79 minutes, Brass got down to stop the ball. Both teams seemed to run out of steam & the match fizzled out finishing with a 3-0 win for Carlton.

It was an unexpected but deserved defeat for the Stan who looked flat & often failed to hold onto the ball or complete passes. Off days happen so hopefully this was just one of these from a good set of players. Next Saturday the Stan are at home against Grimsby Borough in a potential relegation 6 pointer.

Kevin Mochrie

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