by Peter Scherer
While Mickleover’s hopes of going eight unbeaten were dashed in last Saturday’s 0-1 defeat at Racing Club Warwick, our table topping visitors this Saturday suffered similarly.
Carlton lost 0-1 at Coleshill last Saturday, having gone eight unbeaten since they lost 0-4 at Racing Club Warwick too.
Mark Harvey and Andy Clerke have been joint managers since the start of this season, having finished seventh in the NPL East last season.
Goalkeeper Felix Annan joined our visitors in August 2023, after a season in the US with Maryland Bobcats. Ghanaian born, he started his career in his homeland, with Asanate Kotoko SC and spent time at the West African Football Academy.
Dean Freeman is a central defender, who joined our visitors at the start of the 22/23 season after a spell at Newark. He also made over 100 appearances for Coalville and has played for Sherwood Colliery, Belper Town, Loughborough Dynamo and Rainworth MW after starting his youth career at Barnsley.
Left back Lewis Durow is in his fourth season at Carlton. He’s played for Ilkeston Town, Holbrook Sports and Mickleover RBL too.
Right back Liam Bateman is another defender who started his career at Aston Villa, before three years at
Kettering following his release. He’s also played for Basford, St. Ives, Tamworth and Worksop and joined Carlton in 2023.
Defender Shea Thompson-Harris joined our visitors following his release from Notts County in 2023.
Alex Howes is a central midfielder and another former Notts County junior. After a loan spell at Coalville and Tamworth, he joined Basford on his release. He initially came to Carlton on loan, before his move became permanent in February 2022.
Attacking midfielder Jason Law arrived last month from Stamford. A graduate of Carlton’s own Academy after spells with Derby and Burton, Law went to Mansfield Town as a 16 year old. After loans at Sutton Coldfield, Gresley Rovers, Hednesford, Leek Town and Kettering, he moved to Scunthorpe last March after 10 years with the Stags. He was also loaned to Spalding Utd, before starting this season at Stamford.
Niall Davie is the club captain and can play midfield or striker. A home grown player who came through the clubs own academy.
Niall Hylton is another midfielder, who joined our visitors from local club Gedling MW. He has played for Basford too.
Khyle Sargent is a midfielder who returned to the club in 21/22.
Ollie Taylor is a young midfielder, recently arrived on loan from Mansfield Town, where he has been a regular in the Stags Under 19’s.
Ewan Robson is another midfielder signed in pre-season from Sherwood Colliery.
Midfielder or striker Lamin Manneh came from Dunkirk in 2022.,
Ollie Clark left Carlton in January 2021 to join Basford, but came back in October 2024 initially on loan from Stamford. He is also a midfielder.
Former Notts County midfielder Neo Saunders joined the squad in March 2024 too.
Striker Ash Chambers was a pre-season signing from Barwell. He played over 140 games in League Two, scoring 17 goals, having started out at Leicester City. After loans at Wycombe and Grimsby Town, he joined York City, moving on to Cambridge Utd three years later. He’s also played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Nuneaton, Kidderminster, Brackley, Buxton, Coalville and Basford.
Fellow striker or midfielder Alex Troke returned to Carlton for his third spell in pre-season. A former Notts County youngster, he had spells at Eastwood and Grantham before joining our visitors in Match 2013, staying just over two years before moving to Coalville.
Bedworth and Ilkeston were his next stops before returning to Carlton again in March 2023. He then joined Belper Town, before spending a year back at Eastwood and had been at Retford since November 2024 until returning to the Millers again.
Kieran Watson is another striker and another returnee, having play for our visitors for a short time in 2023. He’s also played for Matlock Town, Shirebrook, Staveley MW, AFC Mansfield, Sheffield and Hallam.
Striker Nat Watson is a long serving player. He returned to the club in 21/22 from Basford and has also played for Coalville,
Harry Goddard is another young striker signed from Basford in September 2024.
Most recently midfielder Huw Dawson has arrived from Rushden & Diamonds and yet to make his debut due to recovering from concussion. He started out at St.Albans City, before joining Kettering. He’s also played for Shepshed Dynamo and Bedford Town.
Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm, come and let us get back to winning ways!