Monday 25 February 2008

Magpies stutter at Wendron

Penzance scrambled their way to an away point against lowly Wendron on Saturday. However fortune smiled on the Magpies as Millbrook were just edged out by a strong Wadebridge side which means the gap between the two sides has grown to 6 points.

The Magpies started the quicker of the two sides. Steve Hancock sending Liam Devine clear only for the experienced right mid to blaze his shot wastefully over the bar. The Magpies continued to assert themselves on the game as Wayne Quinn headed over from a corner. Devine went through again this time rounding the keeper but he was thwarted by a supeb sliding stop from the clarets left back. Steve Hancock was next to spurn a great oppurtunity. The clarets keeper could only palm away a Stuart Reynolds free-kick. The ball landed at Steveo's feet but he failed to put the ball into an empty net. The profiligacy continued as Hancock was brought down in the box but sent the resulting spot kick ito the stand. In the second half it was Wendron who took the initiative pinning the Magpies in their own half and when Adam Miller fired them ahead in the 81st minute it looked like Penzance would be leaving with nothing. However substitute Nick Tragenza pulled us back onto level terms in a goalmouth scramble in the last minute of stoppage time.

Sunday 17 February 2008

Magpies snap up striker!

The Magpies have snapped up prolific striker, Alex Lufraglia on a free transfer from Northamptonshire side Heyford Athletic.

Lufraglia began his playing career in the 2002-2003 season with Rushden & Diamonds but struggled to make an impact at the then league 2 side and was released by the club after a fall out with manager Brian Talbot.

Lufraglia didn't return to football until 2006 when he enjoyed a short spell with Brackley Town making 5 appearances and scoring 3 goals, however he turned down the offer of a contract extension with them and instead joined Northants combination side Heyford Athletic scoring 11 goals in his first two appearances for the club. Lufraglia then went on loan to Rugby Town and made a promising start for the club by bagging a goal and an assist. However a hamstring injury cut short his loan move and ended any hopes of making it permanent.

Magpies co-manager John McCallum had this to say on the subject of our new #10. "I'm delighted to have added Alex to our team. Stevey Hancock has done a great job leading the line so far this season but Alex should add a real cutting edge up front which is what we've been missing. I've seen Alex play and I've spoken to the lad and I think we both realise that he could be playing at a much higher level, possibly even league 1, league 2 standard because he has the quality. But you have to have the right attitude to go with that quality and in the past I think that is what he's been lacking. He has lightning pace and fantastic composure in front of goal, now we just need to iron out the little faults like being a little less selfish on the ball and putting 100% in every single game and if he does these things then I see no reason why he cannot go places."

Lufraglia will not make his debut at least until the match against Callington on the 8th March.

Meanwhile in this weekends action, the magpies survived another scare against Millbrook this time drawing 1-1. This comes after a 3-0 home defeat suffered at the hands of the same opponents 2 weeks ago. Adrian Ferrell commented, "obviously neither result was ideal particularly against a team that is close to us in the league. We count that as 5 easy points thrown away and it pushes us further away from promotion. But we need to bounce back quickly. We have Wendron next week which should be 3 points but we mustn't approach the game with the same attitude that we did to this one with."

Finally, Congratulations go to FC Sparkes who have won the Penzance 6 a-side evening soccer league. For match highlights the url is, http://www.youtube.com/user/FCSparkes.