I wonder, every time we get to Easter, why the holidays are still not fixed. I have Friday/Monday, but some people, Kev included, have Monday/Tuesday. I also wonder, knowing this, why there are games scheduled for Good Friday afternoon with a fair percentage the country at work!
Carlton v Spalding attracted only 68 paying guests and although not a top tier fixture, you would have thought that it would have brought in a few more than that. Yes, it was a nasty afternoon weather wise, but there were no other local games being played. Usually at Stoke Lane, it is a bit of a squeeze to get in the car park, but on this occasion there were so few cars present, I actually phoned Brian Dennett in the ground to see if the game was still on!!
Huge turnout!
I thought I'd stand on the far side of the ground, but as the steady drizzle slowly turned into heavy rain, I opted for a covered seat behind the goal. Wise choice because the rain never ceased throughout the whole game. The pitch was not looking at it's best, but this didn't seem to bother the players overmuch and they managed to keep the sparse crowd entertained.
KARL SLACK opened the scoring for Carlton in the 7th minute, latching onto a through ball before running at goal and slotting past Michael Emery in the Spalding net.
Slack wheels away after netting the first of his treble
On 35, Slack had a great chance to increase the Millers lead when Emery mis-kicked the ball straight to the striker. Slack hesitated just long enough for Emery to recover, and the stopper manage to block the eventual shot. Costly miss - because as the ball was cleared downfield, MATTY EVANS tried his luck from the edge of the box, and was delighted when his effort flicked off Daniel Fletcher before looping over Whalin. This was my big opportunity to get the "money-shot" - but as I fumbled with my camera, the ball entered the net just a few yards in front of me -- all I ended up with was a pic of Carlton skipper Grant Brindley looking on as the ball entered the net. DAMN! H-T 1-1
Had a little chuckle to myself while watching the Spalding subs at half time .... curb your enthusiasm lads!!!
Dean Gent should have put Carlton back in front on 50, but his powerful header from Whitmans pinpoint cross fizzed just past the outside of the post. The home team were back in front 10 minutes later though, KARL SLACK this time tapping in to an empty net after Whitman had left Emery on his back before firing the ball across the goal.
Out of shot, Slack waits to tap in
8 minutes later the game was effectively over - Matthew Peberday found CARL SLACK who controlled well before firing to the left of Emery to complete his hat-trick. F-T 3-1
Slack nets his, and Carlton's third
I spent the game in the company of Arnold Town legendary striker turned author, Roger Rann. We were chewing the fat about the MOM, and I said I though Whitman had been excellent and was my MOM .. Roger reckoned that anyone scoring a hat-trick should be MOM.....he thought that when a player grabs a hat-trick they would be a bit miffed if they WEREN'T named MOM. Roger recalled how he once scored 5 for Arnold as they beat Eastwood 6-0 -- there were no such things as MOM back in the day, but Roger said that if the local press had have focussed on any other player, he would have been ever so slightly upset!!!!
Line ups
Carlton : Whalin, Ball, Fletcher, Hayes, Brindley (c), Breach, Whitman, Gent, Slack, Peberday, Griffith. Subs: Jenkins, Martin, Mitchell, Simmons, Norris)
Spalding : Emery, Evans, Wetton, Cox, Backwill, Bodie, Forbes, Toyne (c), Fitzgerald, Oliver, Scott. Subs: Field, Smith, Chagger, Schulberg
Admission £7
Programme £1.50
Tea £0.60 -- I didn't bother, but Roger gave this brew a huge thumbs up.
Attendance 68
Saturday - Stags v Wrexham
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