By David Sillifant at Trefrew Park

SWPL PREMIER WEST (THURSDAY)

Camelford 4 Wadebridge Town 1

MARK Gusterson scored twice as Camelford pulled clear of the bottom two with a convincing 4-1 victory over Wadebridge Town at Trefrew Park.

A Boxing Day crowd of 183 turned up to see the first River Camel Derby of the season, and in the end the Camels ran out deserved winners.

Camelford were without Sam Watts, Tom Cowling and Kenan Nicholas, while Wadebridge were once again missing former Bude Town striker Billy Hopcroft due to a shoulder problem. Targetman Matt Lloyd was named on the bench but wasn’t used, presumably due to injury.

On a hazy morning it was the Bridgers started the game better, looking to use the fine surface to their advantage, but it was the Camels that had the first real chance on 15 minutes when impressive young midfielder Kenley Dyson saw his goal-bound shot well blocked by centre-half Rhys Hooper.

Within two minutes they would have been in front only for a superb last-ditch sliding save by skipper Tom Harris. After a ball down the channel saw keeper Rob Rosevear rush out towards the right side of his area, his clearance found Cam Bidgood 20 yards out. His shot was low and accurate, but Harris got back to divert it clear.

Wadebridge then created chances of their own as a superb move down the left involving Harris, James Hamson and Harry Hopcroft ended with Jacob Smale seeing his effort tipped over by Josh Colwill, before soon after Smale’s shot was diverted wide by Sam Wade’s tackle.

The biggest chance of the half arrived for the Bridgers on the half hour when Hamson’s inswinging corner from the right hit the bar and former Bude defender Dave Youldon shanked his shot over.

Camelford went in front in the 44th minute as good play in the right channel by Dyson found Cardiff on the angle of the box and his low drive from 15 yards, which was destined for the far corner, produced a brilliant save by Rosevear. However, Bidgood sent a cross back in which Mark Gusterson headed home unmarked from six yards.

Wadebridge needed a response after half-time and were level within 60 seconds as Noah Teagle’s superb cross from the right by-line was flicked into the far corner by ex-Camel Kyle Flew.

Despite the visitors having more of the ball, chances were then at a premium until the 72nd minute when home defender Adam Sleep headed over when well placed from Bidgood’s corner.

But with 11 minutes to play the Camels were ahead as a loose ball was seized upon by Gusterson who found Cardiff on the right. His cross was deflected up and over Rosevear with Bidgood tapping in at the far post.

Cardiff dragged a shot wide eight minutes from time before Bidgood’s curler from 15 yards hit the inside of the post.

On 85 minutes the Camels went further in front.

A corner was cleared only as as far as former Wadebridge man Ross Beare and he curled a left-footed finish into Rosevear’s top left-hand corner from 25 yards.

Flew dragged a shot wide as he sought a second, but the Camels rubber-stamped their victory in the second minute of injury-time as Cardiff’s brilliant ball in from the right was nodded in by Gusterson from six yards.

CAMELFORD: Josh Colwill; Olly Taylor, Sam Wade (capt), Adam Sleep, Josh Smith; Kenley Dyson, Ross Beare, Andy Boxall; Shae Cardiff, Mark Gusterson, Cam Bidgood. Subs: Rylee Deignan (gk), Bailee Deignan, Josh Caddy, Dan Hocking, Dan Balsdon.

WADEBRIDGE TOWN: Rob Rosevear; Dave Youldon, Rhys Hooper, Tom Harris (capt); Tom McLachlan, Harry Hopcroft, Noah Teagle, James Hamson; Kieran Rowe; Jacob Smale, Kyle Flew. Subs: Matt Lloyd, Morgan Vallejo, Sam Arnold, Louis Taylor, Connor Mewton.

Man of the match: Kenley Dyson (Camelford).