SOCCER
HAYLEY Malgioglio became the first woman in local football to coach a senior men’s club in a league match last weekend when she took over the reins at Frankston Pines.
The 24-year-old former Young Matilda took on the role of player-coach of Pines’ women’s team last October and in March was also appointed assistant to Trevor Johnston in the senior men’s program.
She remained in that role after Johnston resigned and was replaced by Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor in early May.
Taylor is recovering from back surgery so Malgioglio will remain at the helm for the next few weeks.
“It’s not the first time I’ve taken the first team as I was the coach in an FA Cup match against St Albans,” she said.
Malgioglio has a degree in physical education and sport science.
She trains with the senior squad and organises the warm-ups and shooting and passing drills.
When she’s not involved with the men’s squad she trains and plays for the women’s team which already has established itself in State 4 in its inaugural season.
She had high hopes of getting her caretaker men’s role off to a flyer but things didn’t go to script and Pines went down 2-1 to Mooroolbark at Esther Park.
American import Nic Santhiago scored for Pines with a superb free-kick.
In another State 2 match last weekend Skye United can count itself unlucky not to have taken a prized scalp when having to settle for a 2-2 draw with title aspirant Mazenod at Brandon Park Reserve.
Mazenod took the lead in the second half but Skye veteran Mark O’Connor levelled in the 69th minute when the ball fell to him just inside the box.
Leo McLeod was causing problems for Mazenod and his good work was finished off by Jason Nowakowski to give the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 78th minute.
A stunning strike from outside the box three minutes later tied scores again and with both sides pushing for the winner O’Connor came closest with a free-kick that hit the post in the dying minutes.
On Sunday Peninsula Strikers lost 4-3 to North Caulfield at Caulfield Park after giving up a 3-1 lead.
Michail Schneider was the star of the show for the home team with a hat-trick while Cooper Andrews, Campbell Steedman and Callum Bradbury scored for Strikers.
In NPL2 Langwarrin gave up a two-goal lead to go down 3-2 at home against Dandenong City in a frenetic finale to Saturday’s contest.
A brilliant turn and a pinpoint strike curled inside the far post by Archie Macphee had home fans up and about after 12 minutes.
Macphee doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute after a Tom Youngs free-kick was handled.
But the visitors exposed Langy’s Achilles heel in the second half scoring three times from balls played in the air into the home side’s penalty box.
Damien Iaconis hammered home a rebound after Langy couldn’t clear a near post corner a few minutes after the break and scores were level in the 83rd minute when former Langy favourite John Kuol headed a ball back into the goalmouth for Riley Bidois to head home.
Three minutes into injury time Langwarrin keeper James Burgess inexplicably flapped at Jacob Alexander’s free-kick and the ball ended up in the back of his net sending visiting fans into raptures.
In State 1 Mornington easily accounted for Springvale White Eagles 3-0 on Saturday in a match switched from Dallas Brooks Park to Centenary Park.
In a scrappy affair the pivotal moment came just before half-time when White Eagles had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down only for Mornington to hit back immediately with Rory Currie expertly tucking the ball away.
The second half saw Adam Jamieson’s men take over and deservedly ran out 3-0 winners with Adam Hester and substitute Kane Bentley scoring from well-worked moves.
In State 4 Somerville Eagles suffered a shock 3-1 loss away to relegation-threatened Keysborough on Saturday evening.
Keysborough striker Felipe Ulloa stole the show with a hat-trick while Somerville’s sole reply came from Tom Simmons.
Meanwhile Baxter got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 5-2 win over Endeavour United at Reema Reserve last weekend.
Baxter’s goals came from Dylan Murchie, Jack Elliott, Aleks Dukic, Daniel Taylor and an own goal.
“It was a good performance against a tough opponent and the boys dug deep and got stuck in,” Baxter boss Stephen Fisher said.
“We defended well, looked dangerous going forward and scored some great goals from set pieces.”
On Friday night Chelsea broke through for its first win in nine weeks when it defeated visitors FC Noble Hurricanes 2-1.
Two goals in two minutes from Lachlan Davies – an 11th minute header from an Adrian Pace cross then breaking through onto a long kick downfield from keeper Rhys Davies – had the home side in control.
The Hurricanes reduced the deficit just before half-time when Hadis Masinovic was at the back post to finish off a low cross from the right.
Chelsea could have been in cruise control in the second half but Adam Bartosy and Piers Brelsford missed great chances to put the result beyond doubt.
In State 5 Mount Martha claimed bragging rights over neighbour Mount Eliza with a 2-1 win at Emil Madsen Reserve last weekend.
Two second-half goals in three minutes from Peter Price put the visitors in the driver’s seat.
His first came when he took advantage of indecision in midfield and at the back and his second was set up by Ethan Sanderson who broke on the right then pulled the ball back for Price to hammer home.
Mount Eliza’s replay came from Riley Van Zanden in the 76th minute but player-coach Bryce Ruthven thought his side should have won.
“We played them off the park for 85 minutes and should have put away two clear chances in the first half and about four or five in the second half,” Ruthven said.
Harry McCartney reports that Hampton Park United showed why it deserved to be top of the league with a convincing 4-0 win over Seaford United at North Seaford Reserve last weekend.
The visitors took an early lead through a Connor McAndrews strike that gave Seaford keeper Hayden Hicks no chance.
They went further ahead in the 25th minute when Ali Hussaini took advantage of an injured Seaford defender to beat the offside trap and convert from a one-on-one with Hicks.
Second-half goals to Aaron Edwards and Josh Caruana put the game to bed.
The win came at a cost though as Shahab Fayazi was shown a straight red for violent conduct in the 75th minute.
Mentone enjoyed a 2-1 win against Bunyip at Keysborough Playing Fields with all goals coming in the last 10 minutes.
Bunyip that went ahead in the 80th minute through Liam Lenders following slack play by the Mentone defence.
However, the home side equalised two minutes later when a Frankie Varsamis’ shot from the edge of the box found the net.
Mentone pushed for the winner and it came in the 87th minute when James Hilton was rewarded for pressing the Bunyip defence into a mistake then finishing with a right-foot strike.
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
Saturday 15 July, 3pm:
Richmond v Mornington, Fotheringham Reserve
Peninsula Strikers v Heatherton Utd, Centenary Park
Skye Utd v Mooroolbark, Skye Recreation Reserve
Baxter v Lyndale Utd, Baxter Park
Endeavour Utd v Somerville Eagles, Reema Reserve
Noble Park v Chelsea, Norman Luth Reserve
Mount Martha v Rosebud, Civic Reserve
Mount Eliza v Pakenham Utd, Emil Madsen Reserve
Barton Utd v Seaford Utd, Barton Recreation Reserve
Saturday, 8.30pm
Frankston Pines v North Caulfield, Monterey Reserve
Sunday 16 July, 3pm:
Western Utd v Langwarrin, City Vista Sports Precinct
Mentone BYE
