RYAN Downing’s moment of magic late on settled a dour encounter in Camelford’s favour as they ran out 1-0 winners over Sticker at Trefrew Park on Tuesday night.

The well-travelled attacker took a pass 30 yards from goal from man-of-the-match Dan Hocking, turned and got through four defenders before arrowing a shot inside Harry Ashton’s near post.

The result was tough on the visitors who saw two good penalty shouts turned down in the first half, although the Camels also had their grievances.

Camels boss Bobby Hopkinson was forced into two changes from the side that had seen off St Day in their opener ten days earlier as full-backs Sam Watts and Tom Cowling were both unavailable with their places going to Olly Taylor and usual midfielder, Andy Boxall.

Sticker arrived off the back of a 4-2 defeat to Wendron and included Eli Evans and Dan Carne in their line-up.

On a perfect summer’s evening, it took just two minutes for the hosts to have a huge shout turned down for a penalty. Downing burst into the area and as he went to round Harry Ashton, appeared to be taken out by the former Newquay goalkeeper, however the referee awarded a corner.

The rest of the half was scrappy at best as it took until 22 minutes for the first shot on target as Downing’s 20-yard free-kick was comfortably saved.

On 25 minutes, visiting winger Sam Eccleston had a decent shout for a penalty waved away after going down under pressure from Tom Crowe, and within two minutes he had gone down again, but again to no avail.

A fine move on the half-hour saw the hosts go within inches of scoring as Downing’s ball across the six-yard box just evaded a stretching Shae Cardiff.

The second half was equally bereft of much quality although the visitors were the better team.

On 56 minutes, home defender Dan Hocking had to be alert as Ovo Ememerurai looked to break through, and they were given a helping hand five minutes later when Downing was sent to the sin-bin.

Ememerurai should have done better on 69 minutes. After outmuscling Hocking and Crowe down the right side of the box, he should have shot from ten yards from the angle, but instead tried find sub Tom Guest and the ball was cleared.

Guest should have done better two minutes later when crisp passing found him on the left in space, but his ball in went wrong.

Moments later the hosts had a goal ruled out for offside. Boxall’s left-footed free-kick from the left hit the inside of the post, Bidgood’s follow-up hit the post and the loose ball was swept in by Taylor, but linesman Davey Green raised his flag.

At the other end, Camels goalkeeper Josh Colwill made a superb save to deny Eccleston as his deflected drive from 12 yards was tipped over - and that proved even more important when Downing made it six points from six.

CAMELFORD: Josh Colwill; Olly Taylor (Jacob Turner, 74), Dan Hocking, Tom Crowe, Andy Boxall (capt); Kenley Dyson, Ross Beare, Jacob Ham; Joseph Parr (Cam Bidgood, 58), Ryan Downing, Shae Cardiff. Subs not used: Josh Harris, Bailee Deignan, Josh Caddy.

STICKER: Harry Ashton; Fin Nancarrow, Harvey Hann (capt), Owen Rosevear, Jake Chafer; Sam Eccleston, Connor Cooke, Eli Evans, Ewan Warren-Knight (Josh Evans, 64), Dan Carne (Tom Guest, 64); Ovo Ememerurai. Subs not used: Ethan Elwell (gk), Josh Penrose.

]Men-of-the-match: Camelford – Dan Hocking; Sticker – Sam Eccleston.