Sharks Sink Pride To Go Top
Words: Carina Druce, Western Pride
Image: Keith Eigeland, Football Queensland
Four goals from Chris Lucas has returned Palm Beach Sharks to the top of the NPL Queensland standings, following a commanding 6-0 win over Western Pride at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday.
Lucas completed his haul in the first half before Nik Mircovic and Julian Matthews finished the scoring in a dominant display.
Sharks threatened early with a series of corners before Justyn McKay struck a powerful right-footed effort from the edge of the area that went just wide.
Lucas announced his presence in the 11th minute, taking the ball on the right and racing up field before angling a low, right-footed strike past Pride goalkeeper Andres Pascoe to open the scoring.
Pride’s Peter Drager sought an immediate reply, however Sharks keeper Shane Vitakangas proved up to task despite initially fumbling the shot.
Sharks continued to press for another goal and found it shortly after as Murphy crossed the ball in for Lucas to rifle his shot past Pascoe again.
Ten minutes later, Lucas secured his hat-trick with a powerful right footed volley that Pascoe was powerless to stop.
Sharks stayed in control until the final minute of the first half, with Lucas looking lethal in front of goal and managing to round out his haul in time added on when floated a shot over Pascoe from the edge of the box.
The second half began with Sharks still pushing forward challenging Pascoe repeatedly in the opening minutes, while Pride failed to find any rhythm in attack.
It was only a matter of time before Sharks added a fifth – with Lucas again involved as the former Gold Coast United player crossed for Daniel Grzic.
Pascoe blocked the initial shot but the rebound fell kindly for Mircovic who swept the ball home.
Lucas continued to threaten but it was Matthews who manage to add to the scoring in the final minute of normal time with a powerfully struck volley.
The win sees Sharks leap-frog Redlands United in first place on the table, while Pride remain second last only ahead of the winless South-West Queensland Thunder.
Western Pride 0
Palm Beach Sharks 6 (Chris LUCAS 11', 24', 32', 45+1', Nik MIRCOVIC 73', Julian MATTHEWS 90')
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