SHAE Cardiff’s second half goal ensured Camelford returned to winning ways with a 1-0 success at mid-table Sticker.

The Camels had been beaten 2-1 by both the top two in Liskeard Athletic and Elburton Villa in their previous outings, but despite having nine players away – many of whom would be starters – they got the job done at Burngullow Park.

With Josh Colwill having played his last game against Elburton before moving to Australia, there was a first league appearance of the season in goal for Rylee Deignan, while his brother Bailee also came into the side at left-back with Tom Cowling, Andy Boxall and Cam Bidgood all unavailable.

Assistant boss Dan Balsdon, standing in for the holidaying Bobby Hopkinson, also gave a debut to exciting winger Liam Higgins who started the season at Wadebridge Town before joining Western League side Helston Athletic, while there were also recalls for Adam Sleep and Shae Cardiff alongside Higgins in a new-look front three.

Sticker are a tough nut to crack – as shown by Camelford only edging past them 1-0 earlier in the season – but both sides had shots at goal in the first half although neither Deignan or Harry Ashton were severely tested.

Cardiff saw a shot saved while a series of blocks also kept the game goalless.

That continued into the second half until a moment of magic from Cardiff broke the deadlock just after the hour.

A pass from man-of-the-match Jacob Ham found Cardiff on the right side of the box and he flashed a fine finish into the far corner.

The Camels were left frustrated by a couple of promising moves which were ended by offside decisions, and Sticker were given a golden chance to equalise 15 minutes from time when Dan Hocking was penalised for a rash tackle inside the box.

Up stepped the otherwise dangerous Ovi Emmeruari, however his casual spot-kick saw him fluff the ball wide.

The home side piled bodies forward as they sought a leveller, but couldn’t find a breakthrough as Camelford recorded a sixth league win of the season.

Reflecting on the game, Balsdon said: “It feels like we’ve been a broken record recently where we’ve competed really well against the top sides in Liskeard and Elburton, but not come away with anything.

“We knew we had to take confidence from that and thankfully – despite having several out – we managed to get the three points before going to Falmouth (Reserves) on Saturday who are a good young team.

“We should also have a few back for that one, and with the Senior Cup on Tuesday night against Bude, it means we have a few games in a short period of time.

“But the boys enjoy it and prefer it to training, so we’re looking forward to it.”

CAMELFORD: Rylee Deignan; Sam Watts, Dan Hocking, Tom Crowe, Bailee Deignan; Kenley Dyson, Ross Beare, Jacob Ham; Liam Higgins, Adam Sleep, Shae Cardiff. Subs: Olly Taylor, Joseph Parr, Josh Harris, Dan Balsdon.

Camels’ man-of-the-match: Jacob Ham.