ARGYLE 2
MacLean 66
Summerfield 68

FC UNIREA ALBA IUCIA 0

ARGYLE continued their unbeaten pre-season run with a routine 2-0 win over Romanian League 2 side FC Unirea Alba Iucia in Laufen.

Although originally due to play Petrolul Ploesti, Argyle arrived at the ground in Germany to find Unirea warming up in the baking German sunshine.

Second-half goals from Steve MacLean and then Luke Summerfield were enough to seal it for the touring party, although they could have possibly scored a few more.

In a much changed line-up from Tuesday's draw with Greuther Furth, manager Paul Sturrock opted for Graham Stack between the sticks, with Marcel Seip and Krisztian Timar, who wore the captain's armband, forming a solid partnership in the centre of defence.

David McNamee kept his place in the team but Jim Paterson had to make do with a pace on the bench and was replaced by Gary Sawyer.

Meanwhile, Chris Clark, Karl Duguid and Luke Summerfield powered the engine room with Jason Puncheon, Steve MacLean and Jamie Mackie up top.

After a pedestrian start with both sides happy to knock the ball around the defence, the game suddenly burst into life as Jamie Mackie received the ball on the left hand side, made a mazy run towards the box and delivered a deflected cross that ended up at the feet of Luke Summerfield.

Summers reacted instantly and smashed the ball home only to find it ruled out (heavens knows why) for offside.

Then just two minutes later, a carbon copy of that move materialised again but this time Summerfield fired just over.

Although Unirea struggled to create many openings, they almost got lucky five minutes before half time when Marius Foro fired a stinging shot against the crossbar from 20 yards out.

In the second half, Argyle really shifted up a gear and the introduction of Jermaine Easter had an immediate effect as he battled for a 50-50 ball in the far corner, before turning and squaring to Steve MacLean, who buried the chance.

Then just two minutes later, Summerfield was rewarded for his first-half attempts as he latched onto a loose ball to fire in from the edge of the area.

The Pilgrims had further opportunities to increase their lead but found their efforts thwarted by the Romanian defence.

Nevertheless, Argyle continued to control the game until the final whistle to ensure that they go into Tuesday night's game at Yeovil unbeaten.

Argyle (4-3-3): 1 Graham Stack (gk), 16 David McNamee, 19 Marcel Seip 5 Krisztian Timar (capt (14 Matt Doumbe 60), 18 Gary Sawyer, 6 Chris Clark, 2 Karl Duguid, 17 Luke Summerfield 9 Steve MacLean, 25 Jamie Mackie (11 Damien McCrory 84), 7 Jason Puncheon (10 Jermaine Easter 61).

Substitutes (not used): 3 Jim Paterson, 8 Yoann Folly, 1 Romain Larrieu (gk)

FC Unirea Alba Iucia: 37 Rotaru Gabriel (gk) (88 Mihai Lasc 61)(Traore Yousouf 77), 2, Andrei Poverlovici (6 Elder David 45), 23 Bucurica Nicolae (3 Ioan Grozav 74), 4 Marincean Cosmin (21 Razvan Ghidia 66), 5 Razvan Dalbea (18 Adrian Goga 69), 8 Marius Foro (16 Georgel Bertea 58), 25 Mircea Rus (Daniel Tatar 58), 14 Cristea Calin (22 Nicolae Stanciu 74), 15 Costea Sergiu (11 Campean Alin 66), 17 Gheorghe Grozan (19 Ciprian Selagea 52), 20 Andrei Zagrean (9 Ciprian Pepenar 65).

Referee: Peter Bielecki (Poland)

Chris Parsons