New signing Dylan Macallister scored four goals as Melbourne Heart FC defeated State League 1 side Port Melbourne Sharks by a resounding score line of 8-0 on Wednesday night at SS Anderson Reserve.
New signing Dylan Macallister scored four goals as Melbourne Heart FC defeated State League 1 side Port Melbourne Sharks by a resounding score line of 8-0 on Wednesday night at SS Anderson Reserve.
In only his second appearance for the Red & White, Macallister had a hat trick after just half an hour of play before adding a fourth on the hour mark.
Second-half substitute Zac Walker scored two goals, with David Williams and an own-goal from Port Melbourne defender James Grech rounding out the scoring.
Head coach John Aloisi elected to start with a slightly stronger line-up than the side that defeated a VCL XI last Friday in Geelong.
New arrivals Patrick Gerhardt and Macallister, who have taken little time in settling in to their new club, started once again with youth team prospects Stipo Andrijasevic and Josh Groenwald also given an opportunity to show their worth.
The more familiar faces in the squad were Simon Colosimo, Clint Bolton, Michael Marrone, Aziz Behich and Matt Thompson, with the latter given the captains armband for the contest.
Unfortunately for Thompson though he was forced off on 17 minutes after picking up a slight knock and was replaced by Nick Kalmar.
But that did not affect the side as just moments later a David Williams strike was parried by the Port Melbourne goalkeeper with Dylan Macallister slotting home the rebound.
Full of confidence, Macallister was given an abundance of space on the edge of the area and punished the Sharks with a fantastic strike to make it 2-0.
Macallister was denied a hat trick by the post and crossbar last week, and the strong Yarraside contingent in attendance spurred him on make sure this week it was his for the taking.
And just after the half-hour mark the forward found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper in the box, showing great composure to delicately chip the ball over his head to secure the sought after hat trick.
The scores remained 3-0 heading into the break, with Aloisi deciding to change things up for the second half by bringing on Steven Gray, Sam Mitchinson and Andrew Redmayne in place of Patrick Gerhardt, Aziz Behich and Clint Bolton.
It was a case of more of the same in the second period, with Macallister showing the form he is in by firing a long range shot against the crossbar.
Though it would not be long before he eventually found a fourth goal, with a glancing header at the near post evading the goalkeeper and finding its way across the line.
It proved to be Macallister-s final action of the game as he was immediately substituted for youth team prodigy Zac Walker.
Triallists Andreas Govas, Josip Konyit and new signing David Vrankovic were also given a run in place of Jason Hoffman, Michael Marrone and Simon Colosimo.
Two quick fire goals made it 5-0 and 6-0 respectively shortly after, with James Grech finding his own net before Zac Walker showed his goal-scoring prowess with a fine effort.
David Williams should have had a goal on 84 minutes after a great run into the box but he took one touch too many with the goalkeeper closing down the angles and saving his shot.
But the rebounding ball fell perfectly for Walker who made his own run into the box before neatly slotting it past the goalkeeper to double his tally for the night.
Williams showed glimpses of brilliance in his first appearance this pre-season and was duly rewarded with a goal right at the death to complete the rout.
