Steggles produced a number of stunning stops, none more so that a late save to tip away a point-blank header from Jimmy Spencer as Carlton held opponents currently fourth in the NPL Premier Division on their own ground.

In truth it was a battling team performance as Carlton, under pressure for long periods of the game, fought ferociously to keep the Celts at bay. The Millers did create some opportunities of their own and almost snatched victory in added time, only to be denied by the alertness of home goalkeeper Kyle Trennery. As it is, the sides will do it all again on Wednesday night at Stoke Lane.

Manager Wayne Scott made two changes from the side which lost against Pickering last time out. Luke Smithson and Jacob Spence were unavailable and so into the side came Oliver Robinson and Joshua Kwadu.

Both sides looked to attack from the start with Kwadu having an early effort for the Millers while Ben Atkinson went close for the home side.

On a heavy pitch Farsley gradually gained controlled and Steggles made the first of his stops on 17 minutes, diving low to turn away Nathan Cartman after the striker had been played in on the right hand side.

Danny Ellis then fired just wide from the edge of the box as Carlton were guilty of sitting far too deep, inviting the Celts onto them.

Cartman put the ball in the net on 30 minutes from a Lewis Turner cross but Carlton were relieved to see an offside flag raised to disallow the goal.

As the half progressed towards its end, Carlton started to play a bit of football and caused their opponents some problems. Kwadue, Connor Bartle and Aidan Austin combined for an Austin cross to be cleared only as far as Henry Rollinson whose shot flew over the bar.

Austin then crossed for Kwadu, whose neat header back across goal was not anticipated. Bartle put the ball into the area again but neither Kwadu nor Oliver Clark were able to get anything on it.

Farsley came out on the front foot early in the second half and Riece Bertram and Rollinson both had to make important interceptions to break up attacks.

Kwadu saw a shot blocked following a Bertram header from a Bartle throw and Bartle himself pulled an effort just wide as Carlton enjoyed a spell of pressure.

However it was the Celts who increased the tempo as the game wore on and Carlton’s defence and midfield worked their socks off to keep the home side at bay.

Chris Atkinson saw a shot saved after a lovely move, while Steggles had to rush off his line to deny Spencer.

Farsley then played a short corner routine on the right and when the ball was crossed in Steggles made a wonderful save from Adam Clayton, diving sharply to his left to keep the ball out. Still the danger wasn’t over and when the ball came back into the area Cartman headed wide unmarked.

Bertram then went on a mazy run fully 50 yards before feeding Austin, whose effort came to nothing.

Back came Farsley and a Will Hayhurst free kick took a nasty bounce in front of Steggles but the keeper dealt with it well.

Spencer once again got a strike in at goal and Steggles once again denied him as the game entered its final 10 minutes.

Substitute Joe Brothwell slipped the ball to Clark. He fed Ben Hutchinson whose lovely through ball put Kwadu clean through on goal. He steered the ball past Trennery into the net but the flag had already gone up for offside.

A combination of Bertram and Steggles then kept out a low cross from Turner before Steggles pulled off arguably his best save of the game, turning away a bullet header from Spencer at point-blank range.

With the game deep in added time both sides had chances. First Steggles made yet another fantastic save, this time with his feet, to deny Chris Atkinson, before Carlton broke quickly and in numbers. Bartle had the ball on the left and Brothwell was all alone down the middle but Bartle’s cross was too heavy and Trenerry had read the situation, sprinting out of his area to clear the ball.

The goalless draw, Carlton’s first in two seasons, means a midweek replay at the Bill Stokeld stadium for the right to appear in the Third Round Qualifying, a stage Carlton have never reached before.

Carlton Town: Steggles, Robinson, Bartle, Bertram, Moore, Walker, Rollinson, O Clark, Kwadu, Opoku (Hutchinson 64), Austin (Brothwell 80). Unused substitutes: Pick, Stovell, Tomlinson

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM: Jack Steggles

Attendance: 167