Tuesday, September 11

Carlsberg South West Peninsula League

Premier Division

ADAM Sleep scored a hat-trick as Camelford fought back from 2-0 down to beat Launceston 4-2 in the rain at Trefrew Park.

The visitors were 1-0 up at half-time thanks to Charlie Hambly’s own goal, and seemed to have sewn up the points on the hour thanks to Rhys Walton’s composed finish.

However the introduction of young striker Keegan Lloyd off the bench brought the Camels to life as they steamrollered the tiring Clarets in the latter stages to pick up their first points in four games.

While Launceston were thrashing Millbrook 5-2 on Saturday, Reg Hambly’s men were on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline at Torpoint Athletic despite being 1-0 up at the break.

They carried on that woeful defensive record as the Clarets raced out of the blocks to score inside 46 seconds.

Some good play down the left, resulted in a cross being turned past the hapless Luke Gwillam by centre-back Hambly under pressure from Jordan Hogan.

Despite the poor conditions, Camelford continued to pass the ball around well with Ed Harrison impressing in midfield and Sleep stretching the Launceston defence on a number of occasions, one of which saw him drag his shot wide after being played in by strike partner Ryan Pooley.

Winger Andy Boxall saw a couple of efforts well blocked by the Launceston defence as the Camels continued to press.

Camelford were left furious on 18 minutes as Sleep went on a darting run which to everyone else seemed a certain foul right on the edge of the box.

However the referee waved play on, much to the disgust of the home players and supporters.

Pooley shot wide after being played in by Harrison before Harrison himself saw his effort well saved by Josh Colwill against his former club.

Despite impressing throughout, Harrison was perhaps lucky not to receive at least a yellow card after a late lunge.

Tensions continued to build throughout the half, not least between Boxall and Clarets full-back George Birkbeck, and on 40 minutes both players were booked after an off the ball incident.

One would have thought the Clarets would have woken up by the start of the second-half, but they almost shot themselves in the foot.

A poor pass out by Colwill went only as far as Boxall, who advanced towards goal and slid the ball seemingly into the back of the net. But centre-back Joe Smith had got back on the line to clear it away with a brilliant lunge.

The Clarets then had an excellent few minutes which eventually saw them go two goals up.

A brilliant ball over the top by Callum Watson saw Hogan go clean through against Gwillam. However the young keeper stood tall and blocked it.

They doubled their lead when the impressive Tom Savigar danced his way through before playing in Rhys Walton, who finished expertly into the bottom left-hand corner from 15 yards.

Savigar saw his shot from 25 yards well saved by Gwillam before the introduction of Lloyd and winger Harry Wilshaw just after the hour in place of Pooley and Dan Balsdon changed the game.

On 65 minutes, Sleep’s shot from 20 yards initially appeared harmless, however a huge deflection wrongfooted the hapless Colwill.

The next ten minutes were fairly quiet until Camels left-back Tom Cowling made a goal-saving block from three yards after Jordan Walton’s brilliant left-wing cross.

However the Camels continued to look a threat, and were rewarded with less than ten minutes to go. Harrison’s ball in the left channel found Lloyd who was faced with centre-half Dan Metherell. However as Lloyd advanced to the edge of the box, he used his power and strength to get past his man and rifle in an unstoppable drive into the bottom right-hand corner.

Launceston were now there for the taking and the Camels took full advantage.

Soon after, the marauding Cowling’s tantalising cross from the left was turned in by Sleep from less than four yards.

And they sealed the game in injury-time with a wonderful team goal. With the Clarets’ players pushed up field searching for the equaliser, centre-backs Charlie Hambly and Leighton Carhart showed wonderful composure between them to play the ball past a couple of players before Carhart fired a long ball into the path of Lloyd who had Sleep up there for company.

Lloyd advanced towards goal and instead of shooting, slid the ball across to Sleep who had the simple task of notching his hat-trick.

Soon after, the referee blew for full-time and the Camels had picked up a morale-boosting win ahead of their FA Vase second qualifying round tie at home to Bodmin Town.

Camelford —

Gwillam; H Hambly, C Hambly, Carhart, Cowling; Balsdon (Wilshaw), Insley (Kempthorne), E Harrison, Boxall; Sleep, Pooley (Lloyd)

Substitutes: G Harrison, Heywood, Lloyd, Wilshaw, Kempthorne

Launceston —

Colwill; Birkbeck, Metherell, Smith, Hardcastle; Watson, Thomson, Savigar; R Walton, Hogan, J Walton

Substitutes (none used): Mitchell, Steele, Harris, Watson

Attendance: 101

Man-of-the-match: Adam Sleep (Camelford)