Les McJannet made two changes from the side which lost to Gresley in midweek. Alistair Asher made his first start of the season, and Reuben Wiggins-Thomas returned to the starting line-up, which meant Sam MacVicar and Luke Smithson had to be content with a place on the bench.

Oadby started the better and took the lead in the third minute. Poor defensive play saw Michael Reeve find himself in time and space on the Millers left hand side, and he made no mistake, drilling home from just inside the area.

The United Counties League side looked the hungrier of the two and although they didn’t really test Carlton goalkeeper Martin Kearney, they made sure that McJannet’s side barely had a sniff of a chance in the opening third of the game. Indeed, Carlton first attempt on goal didn’t arrive until 25 minutes in when Ian Brown headed Josh Thornton’s cross just wide.

Brown then fired in an effort which was held by Poachers keeper Warren Butlin as Carlton sought to get back into the game.

Thornton was looking threatening for the home side and it took a crude challenge by Che Adams to stop one attack, which brought the Oadby man a booking and saw Thornton have to be substituted shortly afterwards due to injury.

Brown claimed a penalty on 33 minutes when he followed up his own shot and was bundled to the floor, but the referee was in a good position and wasn’t interested.

With a minute left in the half, and the ground being deluged by a torrential downpour, the Millers levelled. Wiggins-Thomas was fouled on the edge of the box. He got up to strike the free-kick goalwards. Butlin could only parry the effort, which cannoned off an onrushing defender into the path of Brown who tapped home from a yard out.

McJannet replaced Adam Kimberley with Joe Naylor at half time but it was Oadby who had the first chance of the second period, Rob Darkin on hand to make a timely interception as the visitors looked set to score.

Carlton pushed on and took the lead on 63 minutes. Luke Smithson played a neat ball to Wiggins-Thomas who cleverly jinked past the covering defender before slotting home underneath Butlin.

Back came Oadby and Jon Stevenson beat several men before being dispossessed by Millers man of the match Varley, but a minute later he equalised. Oadby were allowed to advance down the pitch far too easily and although Kearney did well to save the first shot, Stevenson was quickest to react to the loose ball and he slotted home to the delight of the vocal travelling support behind the goal.

It took Carlton just four minutes to regain the lead and there was a touch of controversy about the goal. Substitute Wes Henry, whose pace had caused some difficulties for the Oadby defence, burst clear down the left hand side. He was in the area but going away from goal when he was dragged to the floor by Sam Benjamin.

The referee blew for the foul, looked to his linesman for confirmation as to whether it was in or out of the area, and when the linesman did nothing the referee pointed to the spot. Although the Poachers protested about the award, it was clearly inside the area and Varley held his nerve to send Butler the wrong way.

Henry might have wrapped it up in the dying minutes but a great run led just to a corner, and with the game in the fourth minute of stoppage time Oadby fired just wide from the edge of the box in the final action of a battling cup tie.

Next up for the Millers is a trip to Rainworth Miners Welfare in the First Qualifying Round.

Carlton Town: Kearney, Asher, Fletcher, Darkin, Varley, Hall, Kimberley (Naylor 46), Whitehurst (Henry 65), Thornton (Smithson 41), Wiggins-Thomas, Brown. Unused substitutes: MacVicar, Clarke, Burleigh.

Goals: Brown 44, Wiggins-Thomas 63, Varley (pen) 77

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Matt Varley