After months of waiting and an extended pre-season the team would finally get their chance to play competitive league football once again. July and August were very busy months down at Stoke Lane with personnel changes and many fixtures in the build up for the new season. A whole crop of players came in to the club and still many players from the previous two seasons remained as we continued to build . A reserve team was also introduced to the fold to enhance the selection process for the future and former first team coach Paul Rockley has taken responsibility for this side.

The first fixture of the season was a trip down the road to Shepshed Dynamo and a team that had been elevated to the restructured pyramid this season after more than ten years away from this level of football. ‘The Millers’ would find that the opposition on this day were hungry and would give no inch on every blade of grass in a fixture that they were keen for the league to notice them. A tight game throughout would see Carlton take the lead midway through the second half with a fine finish from Aaron Opoku. The lead would only last eight minutes as the tigerish like Dynamo would equalise at the far post from a set piece. The score line would remain until the end of the game as the fixture continued to be a real thunderous affair.

Three days later and the team would be at it again with our first home fixture in the form of Bedworth United. Again we would have to be patient and wait until well into the second half before again that man Opoku would open the scoring. This would be the only score in a very accomplished performance against a team that also never stopped working hard.

Four days on and with the fixtures coming thick and fast we travelled north to Yorkshire and Maltby Main for an F.A.Cup tie. This one was also a tough ask on the day and the team found themselves not firing on all cylinders for the most. Both sides would hit the woodwork more times than the back of the net in a game that both felt they should have won. With the scores level at half-time ‘The Millers’ would set the ball rolling at the start of the new half when Tyler Blake with a reverse half volley surprised everyone in the ground to open the scoring. Aaron Opoku would miss a penalty before ten minutes from time Whitfield for the home side would score an unstoppable shot after some good solo work before. Maltby would now find themselves at Stoke Lane for a replay three days later in another close encounter and would lose by a single goal after Nat Watson had put ‘The Millers’ ahead with an early finish.
A home tie next against Cambridge City and an unknown that last season were playing their football in the Isthmian League North. This one was expected to be probably the toughest opposition so far that we had encountered ,but again the resilience of the ‘The Millers’ and not allowing the opposition to play proved fruitful.

Nat Watson on the hour mark opened the scoring and this was how the game would finish. Two days later and a Bank Holiday Monday fixture would see the team travel to Daventry and would see them produce their best performance of the season so far. The game was a pleasure to watch and Carlton controlled the game throughout with some nice interplay for many parts. Goals from the now fit again skipper Maddison and Nat Watson would see us home safely with the points in the bag and set us up nicely for the forthcoming F.A Cup fixture in a few days time.

So, we hit the first weekend in September and the First Qualifying Round of the F.A.Cup. Along to Carlton came Stratford Town from the Southern league Central and an expectancy to win the game. Carlton for the first half completely dominated the opposition and after twenty-five minutes were rewarded with a tremendous finish from Nial Davie to take the lead into half-time.The opposition would come out for the second half and turn this one around scoring three times to leave ‘The Millers’ speechless at the end.

Forthcoming Fixtures:
18th Sept. Ilkeston Town (h)
21st Sept. Belper Town (A)
25th Sept. Wisbech Town (A)