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Brisbane City have delivered Palm Beach Sharks their first loss of the league campaign, defeating the league-leaders 1-0 at Mallawa Complex on Saturday.

Ken Dougall’s tenth minute strike proved decisive for the visitors, adding to his hat-trick last week and taking the midfielder’s tally to six goals for the season.

City came out the blocks strongly, creating the first chance of the match when Alistair Pase’s shot was blocked.

Dougall fashioned the breakthrough shortly after, beating Sharks goalkeeper Shane Vitakangas on the edge of the area after solid build-up from the visitors.

Sharks lacked their usual bite in the attacking third and didn’t muster a genuine scoring opportunity until 21 minutes into the contest when Troy Ruthven’s strike was denied by the post.

Further opportunities fell the host’s way, but both Chris Lucas and Daniel Dragicevic both failed to beat City custodian Matthew Stein with a pair of chances.

Poor finishing plagued both sides as the opening half drew to a close as shots at both ends of the pitch failing to find the target.

Sharks restarted the match with a series of corners as they looked to draw level – defender Kristian Rees drawing a save from Stein with perhaps the host’s best chance of the match.

Shortly after, Lucas controlled well with his chest and fired a shot on the turn, however was also unable to beat the busy Stein.

Increasingly the hosts looked to long balls to unlock the City defence with Lucas and former City striker Jarrod Kyle as the primary outlets, however the visitors defence remained firm to hold Sharks scoreless for the first time this season.

City continued to threaten on the counter-attack but ultimately couldn’t add to their lead as last year’s Grand Finalists secured a third straight win to continue their recent return to form.

The result sees Sharks maintain their position atop the league, and will confident of a return to winnings ways when they travel to Toowomba next round to face the bottom-placed South West Queensland Thunder.

Palm Beach Sharks 0
Brisbane City 1 (Ken DOUGALL 10’)