Mixed emotions for Camels boss Hopkinson after Vase defeat to Clevedon

CAMELFORD’S FA Vase journey is over for another year as Western League Premier Division high-flyers Clevedon Town left Trefrew Park with a deserved victory.

The Camels were looking to continue the momentum from Tuesday night’s late draw with Holsworthy which came via Matt Gilmour’s late tap-in, but rarely troubled visiting keeper James Dunn throughout, while at the other end, Cory Harvey was comfortably the home side’s best player.

On a pristine surface, the Camels kept the visitors quiet in the early stages, but fell behind on 18 minutes as striker Lucas Vowles cleverly flicked in Jacob Sloggett’s ball in from the left. Appeals to referee Will Annear that Sam Watts had taken a blow to the face moments before, fell on deaf ears.

Tensions continued to rise with both sides becoming frustrated with the officials, however Camels left-back Josh Harris was perhaps fortunate only to receive a yellow for a poor tackle on Nathan Byrne on the touchline.

Camels player/manager Bobby Hopkinson was harshly sin-binned by Mr Annear just before the half-hour, but they held out until half-time despite Vowles heading straight at Harvey when well-placed.

After the break the visitors missed three big chances as Charlie Saunders blazed wide from 15 yards, Vowles was denied by a diving Harvey and Ben Griffith struck the bar from close-range.

However, Mr Annear’s most controversial decision arrived on the hour. After Joe Parr had been fouled on the break he continued and set Kyle Flew away one-on-one on the left side of the box. Yet the referee blew his whistle to go back to the original free-kick.

Vowles failed to hit the target on 69 minutes when he should have done better, and although the Camels started to build up some sort of pressure, Clevedon were a class above, led by imperious centre-half Glen Hayer.

On 77 minutes Clevedon twice went close. Sloggett dispossessed Dan Hocking but was denied by Harvey who could only watch sub Tom Chaplin rattle the crossbar from 10 yards.

However, two minutes later they got their deserved second as skipper Lloyd James’ free-kick from the left was put across face goal by right-back Josh Bennett which ended going in off a couple of defenders.

The Seasiders then saw the game out with ease as the Camels were well beaten.

Boss Bobby Hopkinson admitted they lost to the better team, but wasn’t happy with the officials.

He said: “I think we made a good account of ourselves. Clevedon are a well-drilled team with great fitness levels, they’re really comfortable on the ball and their movement was exceptional.

“To come away with a 2-0 defeat, having spent large parts of the second half on top, I think we’ve made a great account of ourselves as a football club.”

He continued: “Some of the decisions were strange, and I think the referee needs to take a look at himself, and I feel comfortable saying that.

“But we can’t look at the referee and think that’s the reason we’ve lost. We have to hold our hands up. We’ve worked hard and done incredibly well for 90 minutes against a side who could win the league above.”

CAMELFORD: Cory Harvey; Sam Watts, Dan Hocking, Tom Crowe (capt), Josh Harris; Jacob Ham, Matt Gilmour, Kenley Dyson; Kyle Flew, Bobby Hopkinson, Joe Parr. Subs: Olly Taylor, Piotr Maciejewski, Will Rees, Matt Lloyd.

Camels’ man-of-the-match: Cory Harvey.