Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Keith Eigeland/Football Queensland

League leaders Palm Beach Sharks held off a determined fight back from Western Pride to win 4-3 at Mallawa Complex on Saturday night.

The hosts scored twice in each half but were given a scare late in the contest courtesy of second-half goals to Pride substitutes Chris Scott and Cameron Kleinhan.

Sharks dominated their opposition for most the first half but couldn’t put away a host of chances in the opening half-hour.

Midfielder Troy Ruthven was heavily involved throughout, but failed to truly test Pride goalkeeper Andres Pascoe from distance with repeated attempts inside the opening 15 minutes.

Forward Jarrod Kyle also spurned a series of chances prior to the half hour as he twice headed over the bar after being found by Ruthven crosses.

Pride’s defence continued to hold out but were pushed ever deeper as Jonathon Camilleri and Daniel Dragicevic both saw attempts held by the busy Pascoe.

It took Pride until the 36^th minute to fashion their first shot - striker Peter Drager controlling sharply to break down the left before cutting inside only to scoop his shot high.

Smart build-up saw Riley Dillon earn a corner kick a minute later, the set-piece falling to the lurking Karl Dodd who drilled his shot through the penalty area traffic to break the deadlock.

Dillon doubled the advantage only minutes later, slotting a sharp strike in at the far post despite Pride sitting well back to minimise the damage prior to the half time break.

Sharks continued to dominate possession immediately after the restart as Camilleri, Ruthven, Dragicevic and Kyle again threated on the attack.

However, Pride soon began to press higher up the field and began to force turn-overs in Sharks’ defensive third.

On 54 minutes Peter Hinks dispossessed holding midfielder Ben Butler to find space before directing his one-on-one attempt directly at Sharks shot-stopper Shane Vitakangas.

Growing in confidence, Pride made the breakthrough just after the hour when Vitakangas slipped on the shoddy surface allowing Scott the extra time to slot home from Will Jordan’s cross to the back post.

It preceded a tit-for-tat final twenty minutes that saw both sides net twice.

Sharks striker Chris Lucas received a perfectly weighted pass from Ruthven to get behind the line and deliver an assured finish, before Pride immediately replied as Kleinhans turned in Scott’s cross.

Four minutes later Sharks substitute Julian Matthews won back possession on the left wing then slipped in Ethan Grimley, who produced a clinical finish to restore the two goal margin.

Pride struck again to ensure a tight finish when Kleinhans spotted Vitakangas off his line and delivered a pin-point lob over the scrambling gloveman.

Drager wrestled his way through the Sharks defence as the visitor’s sought a late equaliser, however scuffed his shot straight at Vitakangas

The result sees Sharks maintain their eight point advantage atop the league ladder, while Pride are in second-last but in little danger of claiming the wooden spoon.

Palm Beach Sharks 4 (Karl DODD 39’, Riley DILLON 44’, Chris LUCAS 72’, Ethan GRIMLEY 80’)
Western Pride 3 (Chris SCOTT 65’, Cameron KLEINHANS 75’ 88’)