SWPL PREMIER DIVISION

On a day when it was a battle to persuade yourself to get out of a warm car to face the elements, Millbrook striker Curtis Damerell lit up Jenkins Park with a sublime hat-trick, writes Kevin Marriott.

The game, which started in torrential rain and howling wind, was not without effort or chances but it was bereft of goals until Damerell curled in a superb right foot shot in the 61st minute to break the deadlock.

Eight minutes later Damerell produced a lob from 25 yards which left Camelford keeper Luke Buckland clutching at thin air as the ball nestled in the corner of the net.

And the talented front man completed a 13-minute treble from the penalty spot after substitute Rikki Shepherd had been fouled by Mike Kempthorne.

The victory was Millbrook’s 13th of the season and moved them up to seventh place in their first season back in the top division.

They weren’t at their smooth best – the conditions and a saturated pitch contributed to that ­– but Millbrook continued to play their passing game to their great credit.

Manager Mackenzie Brown told the Cornish Times: ‘We were delighted with another three points. Back to back wins in this league is always tough, but we’ve also had very good back to back performances, which is a good sign.

‘The conditions were poor and the pitch was a mess but the players showed great courage to try to play and keep it as a football match when it would have been so easy for them to revert to a battle in the mud, so they deserve great credit.

‘It still needed some moments of magic to win the game because Camelford fought hard, and thankfully Dammers gave us that with his fantastic finishes.’

Camelford, who were without nine members of their squad through injury and illness, played well and with a little more fortune could have had a couple of goals themselves.

Indeed at 0-0, four minutes before Damerell’s opener, Josh Penrose took advantage of some sloppy Millbrook defending on the edge of the penalty area and was in on goal but keeper Chris Wearing was equal to the shot with a fine save.

And nine minutes from time Cameron Bidgood produced an excellent chip over Wearing only to see it take a bounce and finish a couple of inches the wrong side of the post.

Millbrook are back at Jenkins Park tomorrow – weather permitting – when third in the table Exmouth will provide a stern test.

Millbrook: C Wearing, R Tetley, S Morcom, J Wood, J Richards, T Hall, M Barton, B Applegate, C Damerell, T Payne, R Knight. Subs: B Robbins, L Murray, G O’Neill, R Shepherd, L Kershaw.

Goals: C Damerell (61, 69 & 74 pen).

Yellow card: T Hall (30).

Camelford: L Buckland, M Kempthorne, S Looker, L Carhart, H Hambly, E Harrison, J Penrose, J Insley, C Hambly, C Bidgood, T Cowling. Subs: S Brown, W Cherrill, P Brown.

Yellow card: S Looker (21).

Referee: H Achegenui.

MoM: Curtis Damerell – his first two goals were of the highest quality.