Sharks Win Clash Of Coasts
Words: Michael Flynn, Palm Beach Sharks
Image: Jared Adamson, Palm Beach Sharks
Palm Beach Sharks continue to set the pace atop the NPL Queensland standings with a comfortable 4-0 win over Sunshine Coast Fire at Mallawa Complex on Saturday night.
Prolific striker Chris Lucas scored from the penalty spot in the first half before Rhys Lambert and Alex Panic added to an own goal in the second half to round out the result in the second stanza.
Fire set-up defensively from the outset against the heavily favoured Sharks, stifling any genuine chances in the early stages while creating few of their own.
Palm Beach chanced their hand from distance in the opening twenty minutes but Lucas, Jonothan Camilleri and Justyn McKay all failed to find the target.
The match looked set to be a contest of fine margins before Fire captain Paul Arnison brought down Lucas’ supporting run for Daniel Dragicevic in the 27th minute, allowing the striker to put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.
Both sides continued to misfire before the break as Fire's Ryan Delahunty spurned a chance to level terms after slipping in behind the line, while Lucas and Riley Dillon both missed the target for Sharks.
Fire showed more adventure after the restart when Reyze Kelly forced Sharks goalkeeper Shane Vitakangas into a low save inside a minute of the kick-off.
The hosts remained patient though and opportunities soon presented approaching the hour mark – McKay shooting just over the bar from the edge of the area and Nik Mirkovic calling upon Fire goalkeeper Antony Hall to save.
Soon after Fire saw their best chance of the match when Wade Zammit's header was parried by Vitakangas. A goalmouth scramble ensued but Chiharu Kosuge and Kelly couldn’t turn it in amidst a sea of Shark defenders.
Sharks doubled their advantage on 63 minutes when Lucas’ corner met a glancing header from Lambert at the near post following a smartly timed run from the midfielder.
Tensions flared at the other end soon after between Sharks’ Eoghan Murphy and Fire’s Futa Nakamura as the pair battled for a long ball on the right flank – each receiving a yellow card for their part in the altercation.
Palm Beach then secured the win minutes later when Camilleri’s long range effort took a sharp deflection off the leg of Zammit to leave Hall diving the wrong way.
Substitute Alex Panic rounded out the result with 12 minutes remaining, showing his experience to deliver a sublime lobbed strike from 25 yards after sighting Hall of his line.
Fire offered a pair of late forward forays, however Vitakangas proved up to task to deny Nakumura and Delahunty and maintain his clean sheet.
The win keeps Sharks in first place and undefeated in the league this season ahead of their Tuesday night catch-up fixture against Brisbane City at Spencer Park.
Palm Beach Sharks 4 (Chris LUCAS 26’p, Rhys LAMBERT 63’, own goal 69’, Alex PANIC 78’)
Sunshine Coast Fire 0
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