CAMELFORD FC 2-3 CALLINGTON TOWN: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Haynes Dismissal Crucial For Humped-Off Camels…

Camelford FC 2-3 Callington Town

The chap at the entrance to Trefrew Park seemed surprised that I’d found the ground quite so easily but he hadn’t spent the week negotiating the 500 metre off-road experience that is endured reaching the studio I am staying in at Mawgan Porth… The sun set on the October dusk and Callington arrived to receive a boost from Camelford: an early and somewhat harsh sending-off for home defender Martin Haynes. The resulting penalty was converted but twice the ten-men came from behind to achieve parity before the interval, only for a goalkeeping howler to gift Town the victory during the second period. Visiting forwards Ryan Lucassi and Lewis Edwards were always dangerous but home striker Ryan Pooley was eager, running skittishly but too often shooting without accuracy. Home midfielder Charlie Hambly dropped into central defence for his team and displayed his ability throughout a close game, although the visitors probably deserved to win, in truth. Home big-man Josh Insley netted both Camels’ goals, as the hosts worked so hard to shut down their guests and for much of the match they did so, only to falter at, and fail with, Edwards’ second strike.

Tossing...

A frenetic start with mutual harassment culminated in a wasteful shot by Pooley for the Camels, before Edwards’ quick runs on the left for Town began to worry the hosts and Insley did well to block a shot by Lucassi. Home defender Adam Jenkin stuck to his task well though and Camelford defended Edwards successfully from a quickly taken free-kick but then hesitancy in the home defence from nothing allowed Luke Avis-Riordan to fasten onto the ball and move into the penalty-box at inside-right. Haynes’ challenge took the midfielder down but it did seem that other defenders were near enough for the referee’s red card to have been a yellow one instead. Haynes walked off, Edwards stroked a low penalty to Aaron Gregory’s left and a long night began for the Camels.

Midfield industry...

Haynes is dismissed...

Edwards converts...

...and it's 0-1 to Callington...

Dan Metherall defended a cross from visiting skipper and opposite number 3 Fergus Nevin, who performed with sensible polish on occasions, but a fine turn and run to the left byeline by Lucassi led to a shot past the near post by the supporting Will Sargent. More incisive running by Lucassi, this time towards the right byeline, allowed John McCreery to shoot low, an effort which deflected off a defender for a fruitless corner. Strangely, from a non-threatening free-kick, the hosts equalised and it was the camel-like long leg of Insley which did the trick, when the ball drifted across the face of goal towards the left upright where Insley slid forward to convert, with Town vainly appealing for an offside flag to wave. It didn’t.

Is Josh Insley embarrassed?

Surely not. 1-1...

Edwards ran well to the left byeline for Callington but his low cross led only to a colleague’s tumble and the Camels cleared. Avis-Riordan fed Edwards at inside-left but his decent 18 yard effort was beaten down and grabbed by ‘keeper Gregory, before Avis-Riordan was replaced by Chris Lock, who dropped in at right-back, with Dave Barker moving into midfield. A right-side corner for the visitors led to the second Callington goal, for the flag-kick was partially headed away by Camel Kyle Flew, who did fly but the ball fell onto the indefatigable Mike Lucas’ leg and rolled apologetically into the net. So close to half-time this could have floored the Camels totally but amazingly they equalised again, again from a free-kick, which they almost messed up.

A little cluttered...

1-2...

...and Lucas WAS embarrassed...

After Pooley had trickled a low shot to Town goalie Sam Borthwick, who had earlier been flattened by an Insley challenge, which had not been deemed unfair and McCreery had fired a wayward shot at the opposite end, Pooley was involved in a failed short free-kick routine with a colleague but he was fortunate to be offered a second chance to cross the ball from the right and there was Insley, to stretch his camel-like neck this time, to beat tall Town defender John Sturling aerially and nod the ball into goal at the near post. 

Ringrose and Barker...

Insley gets the free-kick...

...scores from it...

...is congratulated...

...and it's 2-2...

The interval reached, the night became quite cold and one wondered whether the Camels had stored enough strength to last the course of another 45 minutes. They had. Lucassi and Edwards were less threatening but Camel Pooley was guilty of hurrying two early shots from distance over the goal-frame again. He was also superbly tackled by the energetic Lucas, after he had cut inside well from the right, as the hosts pushed forward after the break. Lock produced a fine tackle to deny the lurking Insley, following good Camel play on the right, then at the other end a right-wing cross by Lock found the head of Lucas at the near post but Gregory stooped to save. Mike Arscott was cautioned for a foul on Pooley then McCreery was replaced by Town substitute Ross Rice. Insley nodded a right-wing corner well over the right angle of bar and post but sadly, Gregory then made his error and the game was lost for the hosts.

No point in hitting high balls to Pooley then...

That's better...

Oops...

Edwards' shot, Gregory's error: 2-3...

Edwards collected the ball at inside-right and he took a shot from 19 yards, which was knee-high and straight to the ‘keeper but somehow he stooped and spooned the ball inside his left upright, to his own abject horror.

Decent play on the right by Callington, now looking more comfortable, involving Lock and Sargent, allowed the latter a shot, which was very wayward but then Edwards made a run, lost possession, was penalised, yelled: “Gosh, referee, really?” (actually, he bellowed, “F… off, man…”) and was promptly cautioned. Pat Rushton replaced Insley for the hosts although it seemed that the tall and often influential Ben Ringrose was originally going off and the other replacement, James McNary so nearly connected with a near post header from a right-side delivery, only for the ball to bounce up for Borthwick to claim. Lee Beer replaced Barker for Town, Lock shovelled a pass for Sargent to turn onto at inside-right 16 yards out but Gregory did well to flick that effort over his crossbar. Beer soon lost possession, only for McNary to square the ball wastefully to a panicking Town defender after being freed left by Rushton’s sensible pass.

A third Callington player had earlier been cautioned, possibly the skipper (?) but the game, although still in the balance, ended immediately after Rice received a sliced clearance from home defender Adam Sleep and his drive at goal was deflected wide by the same Camel defender.

The Callingtons...

The Camels never gave up and with Edwards and Lucassi not as dangerous for Town late on, mainly due to fine defence by Sleep and Hambly, the home team was always in contention to achieve an unlikely point. The Callington followers were often unhappy with the main official’s performance, especially when he allowed Borthwick to be knocked over by Insley but their trip was worthwhile in the end and the Camels floundered in defeat.

I returned via St Issey and Little Petherick to Mawgan Porth, somehow negotiated the long, barely navigable lane to where I was staying and guzzled marmalade on toast.

It’s what I do…   

TEAMS:

CAMELFORD:

Aaron Gregory, Adam Jenkin, Dan Metherall, Martin Haynes, Adam Sleep, Josh Insley, Charlie Hambly, Ben Ringrose, Kyle Flew, Ryan Pooley, Dan Balsdon (Capt).

SUBS:

James McNary, Pat Rushton, Connor Newton.

CALLINGTON TOWN:

Sam Borthwick, Dave Barker, Fergus Nevin (Capt), John Sturling, Mike Arscott, Will Sargent, Mike Lucas, Lewis Edwards, Ryan Lucassi, John McCreery, Luke Avis-Riordan.

SUBS:

Chris Lock, Ross Rice, Lee Beer, Andre Rodikov.