Wednesday, October 9

Kit Kitchen South West Peninsula League Premier West

Bodmin Town 4

STALWARTS Andy Boxall and Josh Insley were at the double as Camelford pulled off one of the club’s greatest ever victories by scoring five times in the final 25 minutes to come back from 4-1 down to win 6-4 at local rivals Bodmin Town last night.

The Camels’ fifth straight league victory means they’re now in the top six ahead of Saturday’s huge Buildbase FA Vase first-round clash against Western Premier League outfit Buckland Athletic at Trefrew Park (3pm).

Reg Hambly’s men had enjoyed an 11-day break since their 3-1 success at St Blazey, but started well at Priory Park and took the lead in the 14th minute as good work from a corner from midfielders Matt Andrew and Bobby Hopkinson saw Hopkinson play the ball into Boxall, who turned sharply to place the ball into the corner from 15 yards.

After starting slowly, Bodmin worked their way back into the game and levelled on 29 minutes as Dan Pethick headed home Scott Kellow’s cross.

The Yellows then went in front on 33 minutes as Lance Bailey’s shot from a tight angle squeezed past goalkeeper Luke Gwillam.

Town were rampant and went 3-1 ahead on 49 minutes as the dual-registered Adam Carter, who is also banging the goals in for Western League Premier Division leaders Plymouth Parkway, headed home Tom Annear’s sumptuous free-kick from the right-hand side.

Gwillam made an excellent save to deny Carter a hat-trick but was powerless to prevent Annear’s brilliant 25-yard free-kick find the bottom corner on the hour.

However, what transpired over the next half an hour will go down in Camelford history.

On 65 minutes a Hopkinson free-kick was driven into the box where Insley headed past Jordan Duffey from six yards.

The Camels had to wait less than five minutes for their third as a terrible mix-up in the home backline ended with Boxall finding the bottom corner.

The next ten minutes were fairly mundane before the contest burst back into life on 82 minutes as the visitors were awarded a penalty as a bobbling ball was handled inside the box.

Insley kept his cool to make it all square.

Camelford had scored four in 17 minutes but still had time to score twice before the end, both worthy of winning any game.

With three minutes remaining, teenage winger Kian Burns cut in on the left and arrowed a superb shot into the far from the edge of the box before Hopkinson added another to his collection of long-range thunderbolts. Picking the ball up some 40 yards from goal, the midfielder saw Duffey less than ten yards off his line but still had the ability to find the back of the net and seal one of the best comebacks in SWPL history.

Camels manager Reg Hambly told the Post: “I’ve been involved in football for over 50 years, and I can’t recall turning over a 4-1 deficit in the last 25 minutes.

“It was a fantastic night for the club, especially as it was at Bodmin which is a very difficult place to get a result.

“We had a very good support down there with nearly all of the committee there and their encouragement in the second-half was great for the boys.”

Hambly was keeping his close cards to his chest when asked whether he thought the Camels could maintain their standing amongst Cornish football’s elite.

He said: “If we can keep going like we are then a top-six finish has got to the aim, as long as we can keep everyone fit.”