KIERAN Prescott’s brace saw Callington Town show why they cannot be counted out of the South West Peninsula League Premier West title race just yet with a superb 4-1 success at fellow top-four hopefuls Camelford on Tuesday night.

The attacker, who was pressed up front in the continuing absence of star striker Fin Harrison, opened the scoring after just four minutes before doubling the advantage after 19 minutes with Harry Barnes’ first Step Six goal.

Home skipper Tom Crowe pulled one back on 63 minutes, but within two minutes Prescott had his hat-trick as the Pastymen moved to within six points of leaders AFC St Austell with three games in-hand ahead of Saturday’s trip to St Mawgan (3pm).

Joint boss Simon Riddle said: ‘‘It’s been a tough couple of weeks in not hitting the standards that we expect as a group, but credit to the lads last night.

“After a few words, everyone was back on the same page as each other in being stronger and better at all the basics, and as a management team we couldn’t have asked for much more than that from the group.

“It’s important that we maintain those levels, as off days against sides in this league will punish you. Of course there’s still things we can improve, but that’s all part of it and we move on quickly now to another really tough away game on Saturday.’’

Cally started with far more intensity than in recent weeks and, inside five minutes, took the lead when Alex Jacob’s header wasn’t dealt with and Callum McDonnell managed to square the ball for Prescott to be on hand to finish.

The goal seemed to spark a bit of confidence and, on 19 minutes, it was 2-0. Dan Alford did really well to press Cory Harvey in the Camels’ goal and win the ball, which was played left for Barnes to slot home and score his first goal in a first-team shirt.

The Camels had their moments with player/manager Bobby Hopkinson providing a good focal point to play off, however Cally’s back line and those in front marshalled things well to restrict efforts and, when needed, got bodies in the way.

Camelford nearly pulled a goal back right on half-time when a swinging cross hit the underside of the goal before bouncing off George Soper and into the grateful hands of Jake Mead-Crebbin.

The home side started the second half on top, but just before the hour it was 3-0 as a free-kick from McDonnell saw skipper Harry Southcott win the first contact, and Prescott again reacted in the box to poke the ball in.

Within a couple of minutes, though, the home side had a lifeline when a corner was awarded. Callington’s appeals for a foul on Mead-Crebbin were waved away as Camels skipper Crowe scored from close-range.

A five-minute spell of goals was completed when, on the counter, Alford got the better of his full-back and pulled the ball back into a dangerous area, with a defender turning it into his own net off the inside of the post. Initially, it looked as if Prescott had got the touch for his hat-trick!

CALLINGTON TOWN: Jake Mead-Crebbin; George Soper, Harry Southcott (capt), Sam Hill, JJ Gill; Ed Harrison, Alex Jacob, Harry Barnes, Callum McDonnell, Dan Alford; Kieran Prescott. Subs: Kieran Ryall, Harvey Barrett, Shae Cardiff, Evan Barnes, Hayden Marquand.

Callington Town man-of-the-match: Kieran Prescott.