Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Jared Adamson/Palm Beach Sharks

Palm Beach Sharks fought back from a goal down to book their place in the NPL Queensland Grand Final with a 2-1 win over Brisbane Strikers at Mallawa Complex on Saturday.

Substitute Jarrod Kyle cancelled out Matt Thurtell’s first half opener, before midfielder Troy Ruthven struck the winning goal for the Premiers with eleven minutes remaining in the hard fought semi-final.

Thurtell gave the visitors the perfect start when he netted the first goal inside two minutes, delivering a sublime lobbed finish over Sharks goalkeeper Shane Vitakangas from Scot Coulson’s cross.

Strikers continued to apply the pressure as Vitakangas made a nervous start to the contest.

The hosts didn’t threaten until the 14^th minute when Ruthven forced Strikers goalkeeper Michael Turnbull to tip his dipping free-kick over the cross bar.

The ensuing corner resulted in a scramble inside the penalty area that ultimately saw Eoghan Murphy’s shot deflect wide of the target.

Chances proved few and far between up until the half hour as Strikers fullbacks Greg King and Chris Maher kept Sharks wide attacking threats Daniel Dragicevic and Nikola Mirkovic quiet.

Sharks striker Chris Lucas threatened for the first time on 32 minutes from a through-ball from Jonathon Camilleri – the club’s top goalscorer seeing his initial shot saved by the onrushing Turnbull before heading his follow-up attempt onto the crossbar.

The cutthroat nature of the fixture produced plenty of niggle as the half drew to a close.

Sharks had a final chance before the break from a corner, however Karl Dodd’s nod-on to the far post just eluded the lurking Dragicevic.

Both sides found more attacking impetus in the second half – Sharks shooting wide from Murphy and captain Justyn McKay early before Coulson forced a sharp save from Vitakangas with a 25 yard free-kick in the 50^th minute.

Vitikangas continued his nervy display with a series of unconvincing clearances, however Strikers could not take advantage.

Thurtell missed the chance to double the visitors’ lead on the hour, shooting across the face of goal with a first time shot from Jackson Hall’s square ball on the right.

The introduction of Kyle added further attacking impetus for the hosts before he levelled terms on 65 minutes – finishing from Lucas’ nod-on after the diminutive attacker was picked out by Dragicevic’s lobbed pass into the area.

Sharks continued to threaten as Lucas saw his in-swinging corner saved at the near post and Ruthven headed over the crossbar at the back post.

Strikers were left to resort to counter-attacks, as Thurtell nodded on for Macauce on the break but the Colombian could only find the side-netting with a 15 yard strike.

On 75 minutes the match boiled over after Lucas took offence to a heavy challenge from Strikers defender David Salin – the resulting melee seeing Salin booked, as well as Sharks’ McKay and Murphy.

The altercation only served to spur on the hosts though as Ruthven headed home the decisive goal only four minute later, stooping low at the back post from a corner kick and delivering a sliding celebration in front of the Sharks faithful.

Strikers best chance to level came on 82 minutes when Thurtell blazed his shot across the face of goal after being picked out by Coulson’s cross.

Sharks closed out the match through five minutes of added time to book their first ever grand final appearance.

The result consigns Strikers to a second successive semi-final defeat after being eliminated at the penultimate round last year by eventual Champions Olympic FC.

Palm Beach Sharks 2 (Jarrod KYLE 65’, Troy RUTHVEN 79’)
Brisbane Strikers (Matt THURTELL 2’)