Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Keith Eigeland/Football Queensland

Palm Beach Sharks goal machine Chris Lucas expects this Saturday’s semi-final against Brisbane Strikers at Mallawa Complex to deliver plenty of goals.

Both sides boast two of the most gifted strikers in the league, with Lucas netting 33 goals this season for the newly crowned NPL Queensland Premiers.

His opposite number, Matt Thurtell, has scored 17 goals for Strikers despite a late start to the season following a knee reconstruction last year.

Despite the fire power at their disposal, the sides played out a nil-all draw in their previous meeting at Mallawa Complex four weeks ago, however Lucas said that result was unlikely to be repeated in the cutthroat setting of finals football.

“It’s been a good battle both times we have played each other, so I think it will be a pretty good semi-final and I’m looking forward to it,” Lucas said.

“The way the whole team’s been playing, we’re going into it pretty confident and hopefully I can get a couple of goals if I’m lucky enough.”

Despite the disappointment of finishing a goal behind Moreton Bay Jets striker Royce Brownlie in the battle for the league’s golden boot, Lucas said he was happy with his goal-scoring returns this year.

“At the very start of the season I put an aim for myself to try to score somewhere in the mid-twenties,” he explained.

“I wasn’t aiming for the golden boot, but throughout the season with the way I was playing I started aiming for it a bit more.”

“In these last final rounds, and getting a few more goals under my belt, I thought I might be able to get it but that wasn’t the case,” he added.

Asked what his favourite goal of the season was thus far, the 22-year-old marksman cited one particular strike from his four goal haul against Western Pride.

“I don’t know if it was my second or third, but it was my left foot from outside the 18 (yard box) and it curled into the top corner. I was happy with that.”

Lucas also explained he was still coming to grips with his newfound status as a Premiership winning player for Sharks after the club’s less-than-stellar first year of NPL Queensland in 2013.

“It’s pretty crazy to be honest. From last season where we came ninth to having a stand-out season this year – it’s all gone pretty quickly,” he explained.

“But finishing on top of the league, well I’m just over the moon to be honest.”

Not content to rest on their laurels, Lucas added that he and his teammates were now firmly focused on securing further silverware.

“After winning this premiership, it’s given us a lot of confidence going into this finals series and hopefully we can do the same as what Olympic did last season,” he said in reference to last year’s double-winners.

Sharks also remain well in the hunt for two further titles on the national stage.

Later this month they will travel to Newcastle to face Weston Workers Bears in the National Premier Leagues Finals, followed by a home tie against Victoria’s South Springvale in the Westfield FFA Cup.

However, Lucas said those high-profile fixtures wouldn’t distract from the task at hand this weekend.

“We haven’t really touched on those games to be honest. We’re looking at the finals series and then we will look at those other games,” he said.

However, Lucas did allow himself to consider the ramifications if Sharks can qualify for the Grand Final with a win over Strikers.

“It would be amazing for the club. Palm Beach weren’t really a well-known club coming into this NPL season, but winning the premiership and getting into the finals has just been magnificent for the club.”

Sharks host Strikers in the first of two elimination semi-finals this Saturday at Mallawa Complex. Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm.

The second semi-final will see FNQ FC Heat host Olympic FC at Barlow Park in Cairns. Kick-off in that match is scheduled for 7:30pm.