Match Report: Camelford 0 v 2 Wadebridge Town

I was disappointed with the way we started the game – with Camelford being able to keep possession without any real pressure. However, as the half wore on – we gradually grew into the game and were clinical with our only real chance of the half to lead 1-0.

The second half saw our bench make an impact again – and it was a relief to get the second in what was always going to be a very tricky fixture.

A big three points from a place that is always tough to visit.

CAMELFORD   (0)   0

WADEBRIDGE  (1)  2       Smale 33’   OG  68’

ATT:  approx 80

A pretty stinking night, with the rain falling heavily throughout the game, but a pristine playing surface countered that for the players, not seen a better one in the county so far this season! Well done to the Camels groundsmen 👏🏼👍

The hosts had a few regulars missing from their team sheet, and the Bridgers manager Paul Rowe utilised his strong squad and made 4 changes from the team that beat league leaders St.Blazey last midweek.

The match started in typical local derby fashion with visiting skipper Tom Strike picking up a yellow card as early as the 4th minute arriving a split second late in a tackle with Andy Boxall.

Despite the beautiful playing surface neither team managed to find any cohesion to their play and the opening 30 minutes turned into a bit of a non event with both teams failing to have a single shot on target to trouble keepers Bobby Hopkinson, the talented midfielder standing in and looking every inch a keeper and Rob Rosevear coming into the game on the back of 5 straight clean sheets in the league.

The visitors had more of the possession but all too often the final pass was intercepted or went astray, not helped with them racking up 8 offsides in the 1st half alone.

The match eventually sprung into life when a superb 40 yard run down the left saw Cory Sargent cut the ball back from the byline for top scorer Jacob Smale to shoot home his 7th goal of the season at the near post in the 33rd minute.

Camelford 0 v 1 Wadebridge Town

Three minutes later the Camels replied with Boxall having his shot from the edge of the area turned around the post by Rosevear.

Right on half time a cross from the right was adjudged to have been handled in the area by Sargent as he slid to block in the conditions and the ball came off his trailing hand, a hard one to take but probably the right decision by the referee who had a good game I thought. Dan Balsdon stepped up but smashed his penalty way over the bar which rather summed up the 1st half’s play.

4 minutes into the second half Balsdon shot past the post from 20 yards, before a 52nd minute Chris Reski set piece free kick saw Ross Beare shot over the bar on the half turn.

5 minutes later Matt Lloyd raced clear on the right cutting in and getting to the ball first only to be clipped by Hopkinson for a stonewall penalty. Reski stepped up but Bobby sprang to his right to make a superb save from his well struck spot kick.

A minute later at the other end it was Dan OHara’s turn to go in the book challenging Rosevear as the keeper gathered the ball at his feet, he might have been a bit unlucky considering the conditions where players were slipping and sliding all night.

The lead was doubled in the 68th minute when Tom Shepherd whipped in a lovely ball from the right across the 6 yard box and Sam Brown trying to clear smashed the ball into the roof of his own net.

Camelford 0 v 2 Wadebridge Town

There were a couple of late chances for both teams, in the last minute Smale sent Jack Rapsey through on the right and he chopped inside two defenders to hit a left foot shot against the bottom of the post and the hosts almost grabbed a consolation but Sam Haddy headed over the bar at the far post after a great cross from the left in the 94th and last minute of injury time.

Not a classic that will live long in the memory in tough conditions but another 3 pts for the Bridgers that takes them level at the top with Blazey but having played a game more. It sets up Saturdays big match at Bodieve when they host a surprise Bude Town team that could actually go top of the league with a win at St.Austell tomorrow night which would set up a mouth watering clash at the weekend with Wadebridge keeper Rob Rosevear now having gone 550 minutes of league action without conceding a goal (a new club record in the SWPL era). 👏🏼👏🏼⚽️👍