Saturday 9th August 2008

Carlton Town v Caribbean Cavaliers - pre-season friendly

This was supposed to be Carlton Town v Garforth Town, but Garforth were unable to travel for some reason or other.....

With Kev stuck at work again, I almost decided not to bother and when I arrived at the ground at 2:45pm to see a notice that the opposition was to be Caribbean Cavaliers, I thought twice about paying my £4 to get in - but having made the journey it seemed daft not to go in - and although not on the same sort of level as Garforth, the Cavs do have a decent pedigree, having walked away with the NSL Senior Championship last season.

Caribbean Cavaliers

Dean Gent and Willis Francis started the game for Carlton - both were in the Young Elizabethan League rep squad I was proud to manage some 10 years ago.

It was the Cavs who looked the more likely to score early doors, Carlton skipper Michael Martin misplacing his pass, forcing keeper Ali Bercherini to save from the resultant shot from the loose ball.

15 minutes in, Steve Chaplin opened the scoring for the home team, side-footing past the Cav keeper. 10 minutes later Dean Gent made it 2-0, a delicate flick from a ball fired in from the left.

H-T 2-0

Simon Wilkinson came on at half-time - and he looked very lively. He created the third Carlton goal for Terry Hawkridge on the hour. The Cavs pulled one back 4 minutes later through, I think Tom Simpson, but when Phil Bignall tapped in the Carlton 4th on 72 and Dominic Thomas the 5th, the visitors heads went down a bit and their legs went a little leaden.

Finished 5-1 to Carlton - not the game that gaffer Tommy Brookbanks would have wanted the week before the season starts, but I have to say that this was not too bad overall.... indeed, I am looking forward to seeing a few NSL games throughout the coming season ..

Tuesday sees our first league action of the season, Rainworth are at home to Scarborough in the NCEL Div1.