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Tuesday 30 April 2013

Carlton Town 5-2 Sutton Town AFC

Notts F.A. Saturday Senior Cup Final

Carlton Town 5 ( Topliss, Darkin, Smithson, Wiggins-Thomas. Anderson
Sutton TAFC 2 ( C. Mitchell, Millns)


Carlton were forced to play central defender Grant Brindley in goal - regular keeper Mark Kearney ruled out with a broken finger. Sutton looked to be at full strength, with a bench that included former Eastwood Town defender Mathew Millns.

The last time we saw Carlton play in a Senior Cup final they were hammered 6-1 by Eastwood Town - sort of fitting really that they were successful on this occasion at the home of their previous victors, and against the team that knocked the Badgers out of the competition in an earlier round.

Met up with our Heanor Town friend Lee Spurr and spent the entire game in the big man's company. It was good to see so many familiar faces at Coronation Park, far to many to name them all, but we did manage to wangle a couple of corporates off Brett Marshall for Clipstone's game at home to Rossington Main on Saturday!

The game was only in it's third minute when JULIAN TOPLISS put Carlton ahead, turning neatly 15 yards from goal and firing a low drive into the far corner.  Sutton were level on 17 through CRAIG MITCHELL, the striker played in by Dale Gillatt and slotting the ball just wide of Brindley.

With 6 minutes of the half remaining a corner from the left was headed powerfully into the net from close range by ROB DARKIN. H-T 2-1

MAT MILLNS replaced Kyle Ludlow just after the break, and managed to stab the ball home at the far stick after a corner wasn't dealt with by the Millers' defence.

The Snipes weren't level for long though as LUKE SMITHSON fired home from the corner of the box just three minutes later.

RUEBEN WIGGINS-THOMAS added the fourth for Carlton on 68, forcing his way through the entire Sutton defence and prodding home from a couple of yards out.

The icing on the Carlton cake was supplied by BLAIR ANDERSON three minutes later, the former Unity player curling a beauty into the far corner of the goal from the corner of the area. Anderson was awarded MOM by the F.A. hierarchy, but our vote would have gone to Topliss who lead the Millers line superbly. F-T 5-2

Admission £3 inc programme
Attendance - not announced, but best guess 300-350