Samba scores winner on debut - The Pasty sells saffron cakes from Cornwall and Cornish pasties

Former England under-21 international Cherno Samba scored the winner on his debut for Plymouth Argyle.

The 20-year-old striker, who was signed from Spanish side Cadiz earlier in the season, came on as a 74th-minute substitute for the Pilgrims and headed Hasney Aljofree’s cross home eight minutes from time.

20-year-old Samba was once rated as one of England’s most talented young players but his career failed to move forward after joining Cadiz.

The former Milwall player has played for England’s youth teams at every level and was once courted by Liverpool and Manchester United.

Coventry 0 - 1 Plymouth Argyle

Coventry

Team: Marshall, Whing, Page, Ward, Hall, Birchall (Adebola 65), Cameron, Hughes, Tabb (Hutchison 73), Kyle, John.

Booked: Cameron, Page.

Plymouth Argyle

Team: McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Doumbe, Capaldi, Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Buzsaky (Aljofree 78), Chadwick (Summerfield 85), Reid (Samba 74).

Goals: C Samba (82)

Booked: Norris.

Attendance: 19,545

The first ever British Big Wave Champion was crowned yesterday at Fistral Beach in Newquay, thanks to the huge waves whipped up by tail-end of Hurricane Gordon.

Twenty-eight-year-old Scott Eastwood Scott took off on an eight-foot wave at the Gold Rush Big Wave Contest and surfed his way to a perfect ten, beating 15 other top surfers.

The Gold Rush Big Wave Contest, the first of its kind in Britain, was organised at short notice after there were forecasts of huge waves expected of up to six feet caused by the hurricane that struck the northern regions of the UK.

The surf contest director, Tony Good, said the huge waves were even higher and better than initially forecasted. He said: “I’ve been involved with running contests for over 20 years and without a doubt, today’s contest was the most exciting ever.”

Plymouth have signed former England youth striker Cherno Samba from Spanish side Cadiz, after he impressed on trial.

20-year-old Samba was once rated as one of England’s most talented young players but his career failed to move forward after joining Cadiz.

The striker will be hoping to get his career back on track at Home Park, and has joined the club on a two-year deal.

The former Milwall charge has played for England’s youth teams at every level.

Argyle Manager Ian Holloway said: “Cherno is hungry, he’s enjoyed being with us so far, and he’s added to the team when he’s played - every time.”

Holloway has also signed 24-year-old Dutch defender Marcel Seip from Dutch premier division side Heerenveen on a short-term deal.

Holloway said: “Seip’s not the ‘Beast’ that I’m looking for but he looks a good defender.”

West Country anglers are being warned about possible attacks from animal rights extremists, following an incident in north-west England in which fly-fishers were attacked by 30 men with baseball bats.

The incident earlier this month prompted the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trusts (FACT) organisation to demand a meeting with the Home Office to discuss anglers’ safety.

“We want to meet the Home Office to make sure the advice we give to anglers is the best and that the police treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve,” a spokesman for FACT says.

The organisation’s chairman, Jim Glasspool, added FACT wanted to “ensure all steps are taken to protect innocent anglers from further attacks”.

Although there have been no attacks in Devon and Cornwall, anglers believe it could happen in the future.

“I am quite sure there could be attacks in the future, and we have to be ready for it if it happens,” says Bill Cox, secretary of the Plymouth and District Coarse Angling Club.

Hunt saboteur groups are known to have targeted anglers in the West Country in the past.

A wave power scheme off the Cornish coast could lead to unsurfable waves and damage Cornwall’s surfing and tourism industries, according to a surfing group.

The British Surfing Association (BSA), which has over 10,000 members, believes the planned £20 million wave hub off St. Ives could reduce the sttrength of waves by a quarter, with damaging knock-on effects for tourism.

The BSA’s Ben Farwagi said: “Surfing is worth £100 million plus to the economy of Cornwall - will the Regional Development Agency fill the financial gap when these tourists fail to return?

“We approve of the wave hub and the technology in principle, but remain fearful of near-shore surface devices which could well have far-reaching and damaging effects that may be very difficult to reverse.”

However, supporters of the scheme, one of the first of its kind in the world, say it could supply enough energy for 5,000 homes and create up to 1,800 jobs.

Steve Micklewright, of the WWF, said: “It could be a blue-print for the way future marine projects of this kind are developed - especially as there are plans for a string of bigger farms along the Westcountry coast.”

The Government will look at the plans over the next few months to decide whether to give it the go-ahead.

Plymouth Argyle outperformed Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and came away with a deserved 3-2 win, to take them to second in the Championship.

Sunderland scored after just a minute from a left foot shot from Daryl Murphy under Argyle keeper Luke McCormick, after the referee played a good advantage.

But Argyle equalized after only 8 minutes when David Norris struck a 20-yard shot into the bottom left of the goal from the right wing.

Plymouth took control of the game and Barry Hayles and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake looked to have the beating of the Sunderland defence.

Argyle looked the hungrier of the two teams for most of the first half, and Barry Hayles took his second competitive goal for Argyle after 39 minutes - a curled right-foot shot into the top left-hand corner of the goal.

Tempting fate, supporters group “Save Our Sunderland” had designated the day “Green Day” in honour of new manager Nial Quinn’s Irish background, with Sunderland fans being asked to wear green. But it was the Greens, not Sunderland, who had the luck of the Irish.

Sunderland could have taken the lead when substitute Chris Brown hit the crossbar from six yards and minutes later Leadbetter struck just wide.

Buzsaky forced a good save from on Ben Alnwick 76 minutes, as Argyle exposed the weakness of the Sunderland defence yet again.

And Sunderland’s poor defence proved their undoing. With only 8 minutes to go former Everton midfielder Nick Chadwick stole the ball off Danny Collins while he dallied on the ball. Chadwick took the ball forward a couple of paces and calmly stroked the ball past Alnwick for Argyle’s decisive third goal.

Buzsaky nearly made it 4 for Argyle as the game went into injury time, but was ruled offside.

Quinn’s side were booed off the park by the home fans, as Plymouth manager Ian Holloway embraced his players.

Around 700 Argyle supporter made the longest journey to an away game of the season, some leaving from Home Park at 5am.

Argyle are now in second place in the Championship on the same points as leaders Burnley, although Crystal Palace could move ahead of both clubs if they win at Leeds tomorrow.

Argyle manager Ian Holloway said: “The boys have got a fantastic spirit. We came here with a game plan but it went out of the window after a minute. These boys have responded, it’s wonderful.

“I said to my boys at half time ‘I wouldn’t want to be in the other dressing room because these fans aren’t happy.’ I’m delighted with my boys.”

Sunderland 2 - 3 Plymouth Argyle

Sunderland
Goals: D Murphy (1), S Elliott (68)

Plymouth Argyle
Goals: D Norris (8), B Hayles (39), N Chadwick (82)

Attendance: 24,377

Plymouth Argyle’s new manager, Ian Holloway, has revealed he wants to take them to the top flight for the first time in their history.

The Devon club have had a solid start to the season, despite predictions they would struggle, but Holloway has high ambitions.

“Everyone is talking about the obstacles I am facing down here and the problems I am going to have.

“I don’t see it that way. I moved down here, I am from round here and I believe in the area, the whole lot.

“I am not thinking about targets for this season. I am thinking long term.

“This club can make it to the Premiership and I want to be the man who takes them there.

“There is so much untapped potential in this area and I want to utilise it,” he said.

“I have signed a three-year contract and that is what I have got to work with to begin with.

“My first aim is to get the gates up. At the moment we get 16,000 which is enough to compete in this division - but I think we can get more, and if we are going to develop the ground and the team then we have to.

“I believe in what I am doing totally and once people speak to me they do too - I could sell snow to the Eskimos.

“I persuaded Barry Hayles to come here, and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake. People did not think he would leave Manchester United to come here and I will tell you why he did - because of me.”

And Holloway isn’t phased by pre-season predictions by pundits: “I haven’t read what people have predicted and I don’t care what they say. I’ve been a football pundit and half the time they don’t even watch games, they just sit there chatting.

“I don’t care what other people say. Look at Watford last year - everyone was saying they were going to get relegated but look what happened to them when they backed Aidy Boothroyd.

“Until you walk around this club and see how welcome they have made me feel you won’t understand how I am feeling at the moment. I am going to do a job for them and I will work until I die if I have to.

“I don’t know what the feeling is like in the town - you will have to come down and see for yourself.

“But all I can say is that I am buzzing and I can’t wait for the next game - win, lose or draw.”

Luke Summerfield scored a great goal from outside the box on his debut to seal a win for Ollie’s Army away to Colchester.

Summerfield blasted home a 25-yard shot after a poor clearance from Colchester after half-an-hour, as Argyle’s defence soaked up pressure from the home side.

Colchester’s Richard Garcia had earlier struck the crossbar with his own 25-yard effort before Argyle’s new stricker Barry Hayles cleared a volley from Karl Duguid.

Johnnie Jackson could have equalised with a 20-yard shot but the Greens held on for a hard-fought win.

Argyle manager Ian Holloway was pleased with the performance as much as the result: “I was delighted with the win. Colchester have a right to be in this division and they have done well.

“The boys defended very well and it was a fantastic strike to win it for us.”

Argyle’s boss also had a message for the travelling fans: “When you think how far the fans have come to watch a Tuesday night game it doesn’t really make sense and I’d like to thank them all.”

Colchester 0 - 1 Plymouth Argyle

Colchester
Bookings: Elokobi, Garcia

Plymouth Argyle
Goals: L Summerfield 30
Bookings: Connolly, Hayles, Capaldi, McCormick

Attendance: 4,627

One of the directors of environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is due to arrive in St. Agnes tomorrow, after cyling 300 miles from his home in London to raise awareness about climate change.

Hugo Tagholm set off from Westminster last Friday at 7am and has clycled to Cornwall via Glastonbury.

Hi said: “The sea and surfing play a big part in my life. This summer, as part of my commitment to their campaigns, I wanted to ride my bike 300 miles from London to St Agnes in Cornwall, where SAS are based.

“This is particularly to raise money and awareness for their climate change campaign which calls for carbon dioxide emissions to be reduced and for cleaner, safer energy options such as marine renewables to be adopted”.

As well as reasing awareness and funds for SAS campaigns, Hugo hopes his journey will inspire people to save energy.

Steps you can take to reduce energy include switching to a green energy supplier like Ecotricity, not leaving your TV on standby, and cycling to work.

For more information visit the Surfers Against Sewage website.

Plymouth’s season got off to a scrappy start with an unconvincing 1-1 draw at home to Wolves, today.

New striker Barry Hayles put the greens ahead on 34 minutes with a right foot shot at the near post from Tony Capaldi’s cross, which the keeper half-stopped before it looped over him.

But Argle defender Matthias Doumbe scored an own goal just 90 seconds into the second half, as he deflected Kevin O’Connor’s shot past his own keeper.

Wolves keeper Matt Murray put in a pine performance to keep Wolves in the game, and saved from David Norris late on to keep the scores level, prompting Argyle’s new manager Ian Holloway to say: “He’s a monster! Where did they find him?”

“I’m proud of our performance and, on another day, we would have won.

“There were some good signs for us. Wolves can be a bit fancy Dan at times and I was hoping to catch them on the hop. But Mick has done well there already and made them resilient.”

“It was a very emotional day for me, because of the reception I got. The crowd here are absolutely marvellous.

Mick McCarthy, the new Wolves boss, was happy with his side’s performance: “I was pleased with how we battled. Not many sides will come away from Plymouth with a point.”

Plymouth Argyle 1 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Plymouth Argyle
Goals: B Hayles 34

Bookings: N Chadwick 49, D Norris 57, L Nalis 64, P Connolly 67

Wolverhampton Wanderers
Goals: Doumbe 47 og.

Bookings: J Clapham 7, K Henry 9, R Edwards 55
Attendance: 15,964