Carlton Town 4-0 Belper United
The final warm-up game for the team would see Belper United travel to Stoke lane as late replacements for Gresley who had to pull out of the fixture due to their season having to commence only a few days later. The Millers again would show that they were organised and disciplined with their work on the pitch and end their pre-season with a convincing four-nil victory in this one.

Barton United 3-2 Carlton Town
A week later and after an unbeaten pre-season the team would travel north to Hull and Barton United in an F.A. Cup fixture. The game would prove to be a tight encounter with both teams applying themselves vigorously to progress to the next round. It was always going to be a close affair with Carlton finding the home side very difficult to break down for many periods of the game. The Millers were always chasing the game and weren’t allowed to be as fluent as they had been in pre-season and would eventually succumb to a disappointing defeat in a game where the home side were always ahead with the scoring.

Lincoln United 0-2 Carlton Town
With players returning from injury Carlton would travel the following week to Lincoln United for their first league fixture of the newly sponsored Betvictor Northern Premier League. Wanting to put behind them the disappointing result from the previous week The Millers were looking to start off the new campaign as we mean to finish it, and thus we did. For the first thirty minutes the game was tight with very few opportunities for either side until Opoku would open the scoring for Carlton. Not long after this Elliott was dismissed very harshly as The Millers continued to press the home side and try to increase their lead. We would play nearly sixty minutes of the game with only ten men on the field and Lincoln would be kept mainly to long distance efforts on goal as they tried in vain to take advantage of their extra player. The Millers would increase their lead just before the hour mark with Ollie Clarke scoring a far post header to send The millers home with all three points.

Carlton Town 1-0 Sutton Coldfield Town
Four days on and we are now ready for the next task with Sutton Coldfield being the next visitors to Stoke Lane. Another hard-working performance from the team against a very capable and tough opposition would see this one concluded by Tom Maddison from the penalty spot ten minutes into the second half. It was again another game where The millers had to dig deep and show character to obtain the result and continue the good work that has prevailed from the summer.

Kidsgrove 0-1 Carlton Town
Up next would be a trip westward and across to Kidsgrove near Stoke and opposition that we had not encountered in over a year due to last season’s restructuring of the leagues. Again this fixture was to be a close knit affair and again it would take another penalty from Maddo to conclude this one in the dying embers of a game where both teams had many opportunites in a game that was well worthy of the entrance fee.

So, with three games in and plenty more to happen the season is well and truly under way. A promising start from a new group of players and staff has increased the hope for the remainder of the season and with more people showing interest in the club the expectancy also. Obviously there is a still a long way to go and a lot of hard work to be put in, but with everyone’s commitment and endeavour the rewards will be very fulfilling in ensuring this great club’s future success. Tom Maddison scoring from the spot at Kidsgrove.

Forthcoming Fixtures
Tues 10th Sept Stamford (a) 745pm
Sat 14th Sept Newcastle Town (h)
Sat 21st Sept Leek Town (a)
Wed 25th Sept Spalding Utd (h) 745pm
Sat 28th Sept St Neots Town (h) FA Trophy
All fixtures kick-off at 3pm unless stated.