Pre-season round-up

SOUTH?West Peninsula League clubs Camelford, Launceston, Bude Town and Holsworthy have all been in pre-season action over the last few days.

Saturday, July 14

Bude Town 0

Launceston 2

(Davey, R Walton)

DIVISION?One (West) side Bude Town entertain Premier Division Launceston in a hard-fought and entertaining pre-season friendly on Saturday with goals from Sam Davey and Rhys Walton giving the visitors a 2-0 win.

The first-half saw the hosts start the brighter with some excellent forward play between Nath Bonney and Billy Hopcroft carving out several opportunities.

Launceston looked dangerous on the break and in the 20th minute forced Bude keeper Gary Dinshaw into a smart save.

From the resulting corner, a deflected shot looped over Dinshaw and was tapped home by Davey at the back post. Whilst the goal was a little fortunate both sides played some nice football in an end-to-end opening 45.

The second-half saw both sides make a plethora of changes but chances continued at both ends with both keepers being called into action. In the 85th minute, as fitness started to take its toll on a hot day, an excellent move down the Launceston left was swept home by Rhys Walton to double the visitors’ advantage.

That was how the score stayed despite Bude squandering a couple of late chances.

Bude manager, Ryan Leverton, said: “It was a good match watched by a good pre-season crowd who presumably were more entertained by the local football than the 3rd and 4th play-off between Belgium and England!”

Monday, July 16

Penryn Athletic 1

Camelford 2

(Sleep, E Harrison pen)

CAMELFORD got their 2018/19 pre-season off to a good start as they won 2-1 at Cornwall Combination League side Penryn Athletic, writes Sam Brown.

Penryn started well, and after a lapse in concentration and a deflected through-ball, James Daniels took a touch and slotted it past Luke Gwilliam to put them 1-0 up.

Camelford’s response was strong, and they felt they should have had a penalty when star man Keegan Lloyd was brought down.

However the North Cornwall side, who play two levels above their hosts, were back on level terms just before the break. A perfectly weighted through-ball from Josh Insley saw striker Adam Sleep outpace the home defence and calmly placing it past the onrushing keeper.

Camelford improved in the second-half following manager Reg Hambly’s decision to change formation to a 3-5-2.

However Penryn had the odd chance here and there, including Daniels hitting the post from the edge of the box.

This seemed to wake the Camels up and they were awarded a penalty when Joe Adkins was brought down in the box.

Up stepped midfielder Ed Harrison to send the keeper the wrong way and win the game ahead of tonight’s second pre-season friendly against Holsworthy (7.30pm), whose young and inexperienced side lost 4-0 at Torridgeside on Saturday afternoon.

Reflecting on the game, Hambly said: “It was a good chance to work hard to improve fitness and a good opportunity for the youngsters.”