It has been an excellent start to life at Penryn Athletic for Jack Rapsey.

Rapsey scored five goals in Athletic's 9-2 win at home to Threemilestone on Friday night, taking his pre-season tally to nine goals from three games.

The young forward, who is the son of Cornish football legend and former Penryn and Falmouth Town striker Mark, missed the whole of last season after suffering a serious injury last summer while playing for Wendron, but Penryn manager Harry Pope is delighted that he has decided to make his comeback at Kernick Road.

He said: “From last year I thought that I had the core of a really good team but I felt I needed to improve it in a couple of areas, goalkeeper being one and a big target man who is also going to get 30 or 40 a season.

“I knew Rappo was one of those players who could do that. He had an injury last year and was out for a year but I got on to him over pre-season to see what his plans were and he had two options, then when I threw Penryn in the hat Penryn was the number one option for him, which I was delighted about.

“He’s had a bit of a knock throughout pre-season so he’s not really been training but he’s showed up in the games so far. It’s not so much the fact he’s scored nine goals in three games but his movement off the ball is class, he’s brining other people into the game, his hold-up play is brilliant, exactly what I want to see from a striker. He’s had a few tap-ins but his first four goals tonight [Friday] were top class.

“Hopefully he’s not getting them all out in pre-season and he saving a few for the season but I’m delighted with the signing.”

Rapsey's new team-mate Ryan Reeve cut a frustrated figure as he failed to add his name to the scoresheet in the thumping win, but Pope is looking forward to what his 43-goal top-scorer from last season can do alongside his new strike partner this year.

“He’s a crucial player for us but I know Reevey and he’ll be annoyed with himself that he didn’t get one in a nine-goal game," he said.

"For me as gaffer if we’re scoring nine goals and my top score from last year has not got one then that’s going to show how good the team is playing.

“He’s very critical of himself, he’ll have wanted a goal tonight but he’ll take that into the next game and hopefully he’ll bang a few in and shut Rappo up because he’s giving it the big one at the minute!

“We’re only two or three games in, but they look like they could form a very deadly partnership up front.”