BATHURST City extended its winning streak over women’s Premier League Hockey local rivals Souths on Saturday with a 5-0 victory at Bob Roach Field.
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It was City’s seventh consecutive win against Souths – the two blues last tasting success against them in May 2014 – and it kept them on top of the competition ladder.
Though not as close as the round one contest between the pair which City won 3-1, Souths did push the front runners.
However, every time Souths renewed its efforts, so too did City.
“Souths in patches showed some really good play and I think the crucial thing is when they did do that, the Bathurst City girls showed composure,” City assistant coach Nick Klower said.
“As we talked about, they really focused on keeping that talk going and continuing their positional play and marking, and stringing those passes together when they were placed under pressure.
“Even though Souths are out of contention, they are still a very good side and can still, later in the season, score upsets.
“So it was good to see the girls’ attitude didn’t drop at all, they maintained their intensity.”
It took seven minutes for City to open scoring on Saturday, Emma Oxley finding a gap inside a congested circle.
Not long after City came close finding another as Kelsey Willott worked down the right wing then attacked along the baseline, but Souths goalkeeper Kate Brown came up with a double block to hold her out.
There was little Brown could do but hope for a miss when City launched its next attacking raid in the 19th minute. They didn’t.
Lisa Quinn intercepted a pass in the centre of the field and quickly countered, linking with Willott before finishing off to make it 2-0.
Souths was not without its chances in the first half, a Meg Booth cross flashed across the face of goal just out of reach of team-mate Daisy Morrissey, while Shannon Fisher drew a penalty corner seven out from the break.
Though not able to convert, Souths was still making things tough for City.
When play resumed City continued to pressure, but Souths pulled players back behind the ball and proved hard to break down.
Finally, with 15 minutes remaining, City found a third goal as Andrea Seymour powered in an effort from a penalty corner play.
Having repelled so many attacks, the effort told on Souths’ players and City managed to add another two goals to its tally in the final 10 minutes.
The first came as Willott attacked down the left wing, found Kelly Baker on top of the circle who then blasted the ball towards goal. Brown looked to have it covered, but Quinn got a touch to pick up her second of the match.
That was followed less than a minute later by another as Shona Jarvis found herself with space inside the circle.
The win keeps City in the box seat to claim the minor premiership.