Words: Anthony Bigby, SWQ Thunder
Image: Russell Ensor, SWQ Thunder

Palm Beach Sharks returned to winning ways on Saturday night with a resounding 7-0 win over last place South West Queensland Thunder at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba.

Jarrod Kyle, Chris Lucas and Kristian Rees all netted doubles for the visitors, with Troy Ruthven adding to the tally as the league-leaders bounced back from their first loss of the campaign last weekend.

The visitors started the contest strongly and following 10 minutes of sustained pressure defender Kristian Rees opened the scoring with a strike from Sharks’ seventh corner of the match.

Three minutes later, Ruthven threatened with a curling free-kick but was denied by a sharp save from Thunder goalkeeper Stuart Campbell.

The hosts saw their best chance of the early stages on 16 minutes when Agoth Tong was picked out by Jack Percy’s pass, the Thunder striker wrestling his way in the Shark’s penalty area before being closed down by Eoghan Murphy.

Further pressure from the visitors kept Campbell busy in the Thunder goalmouth, the 18 year-old gloveman producing a classy double save on 32 minutes.

Five minutes later Thunder created their best opportunity of the match when Ryan Ensor found space in midfielder before linking up with Colin Ball, who forced Sharks goalkeeper Shane Vitakangas into a fingertip save from distance.

Sharks amassed 14 corners in the opening stanza and eventually broke through for their second prior to the half when Ruthven delivered a powerful strike from the edge of the area that Campbell could only palm into his own net.

The second half started more evenly with both sides pushing the ball around looking for opportunities.

Sharks’ striker Lucas got on the end of a ball into the penalty area just after the hour, however his shot cannoned back off the far post.

The sides traded blows as Ball again trying his luck from distance for the hosts and Lucas forced another save from Campbell on 68 minutes.

The floodgates opened for the visitors on the 71^st minute when Kyle pounced for Sharks’ third goal, chipping Campbell for his third goal in three games since returning to the club mid-season.

Three minutes later Rees turned in a free-kick to round out his brace before another free-kick shortly after saw Lucas take the more direct route – curling his shot around the Thunder wall to beat Campbell at his near post.

Thunder remained stoic in attack as Tong, Ensor, Jacob Bigby and substitute Tom Fanning continued to push forward in attack before Kyle benefitted from an intercept pass and fired a long-range bullet to secure his double.

Lucas rounded out the win from the penalty spot in the final minutes to extend his tally to 25 goals for the campaign, again moving level with Moreton Bay’s Royce Brownlie in the Golden Boot race.

The win sees the current competition leaders extend their lead atop the NPL Queensland to nine points, while Thunder continue to look for a competition point.

Palm Beach Sharks 7 (Kristian REES 10’ 74’, Troy RUTHVEN 44’, Jarrod KYLE 71’ 81’, Chris LUCAS 76’ 90’(p))
South West Queensland Thunder 0