After triumphing in their Westfield FFA Cup clash in Sydney last week, Palm Beach Sharks have ended a stellar week by being crowned Queensland NPL champions.
Rising star Christopher Lucas’ early goal gave the Sharks a 1-0 win over Moreton Bay Jets on Saturday night and with closest rivals Brisbane Olympic losing, champagne corks were popping for the newly crowned champions.
“This is a huge achievement for the club,” coach Grae Piddick told Gold Coast Bulletin.
“It is a bit of a relief to have finally clinched the championship and now we can look forward to our other big campaigns coming up.”
The club is riding high after a bumper 2014 season which is set to go to even greater heights in coming months.
Palm Beach are already through to the last 16 of the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup following last week’s 2-1 win on the road against Lloyd Owusu’s Hakoah Sydney City.
The Sharks have drawn self-confessed “pub team” and third-tier Victorian outfit South Springvale and will be hot-favourites for a spot in the quarter-finals.
As well as their state NPL finals, the Sharks will also compete in the national NPL series, travelling to Newcastle to meet the Weston Workers.
And in Lucas they have a striker in career-best form. His goal against the Jets on the weekend was his 31st of the campaign, having him level with Moreton Bay’s Royce Brownlie for the competition’s golden-boot.
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