CAMELFORD boss Reg Hambly hopes his ‘much improved’ Camels can cause a shock when they welcome neighbours Wadebridge Town on Boxing Day (11am).

The hosts start the game as underdogs against a Bridgers outfit who are competing for a top six finish at the very worst in SWPL Premier West, but Camelford’s new-look side has started to come together after a difficult late summer and autumn.

Hambly said: “Wadebridge are going well again this year and will start as favourites but our performances lately have been much improved and we’re hoping to make it a cracking game for the crowd to come out and enjoy. There’s always a bit more spice when it’s Boxing Day and a local derby so it should be good!

“Wadebridge are strong all-round with a very good goalkeeper and decent back four, but their front three of Kyle Flew, Matt Lloyd and Jacob Smale are very dangerous on the break.

“But we’ve got threats of our own so it should be an exciting, open game to watch.”

Camelford have started to put points together in a congested bottom half but will be missing key trio Tom Cowling, Sam Watts and Kenan Nicholas.

Hambly said: “The team’s been coming together a bit, and a lot of that comes down to availability.

“When we can get everybody on the field we’ve got a good chance in most games, just sometimes we have 12/13 players whereas as a lot of clubs have five fit subs to come on.

“Our ambition is to get up towards the top half but we know that’s going to be difficult at the moment, particularly with just two games in January which are against Newquay and Wendron.

“But we’ll be scrapping for every point and been much improved, so hopefully we can get ourselves into a comfortable position.”