ORANGE Ex-Services will be playing the rest of the 2014 women’s Premier League Hockey season for pride after a 2-0 loss to Parkes United on Saturday all but ruled the blue and golds out of finals contention.
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The Mitch Kennewell-coached outfit now sits 10 points adrift from the fifth-placed Lithgow Zig Zag and, with just three rounds remaining in the 2014 regular season, Ex-Services will need a miracle to sneak into the post-season.
“We’ve probably got to rely on other results now, which isn’t great,” Kennewell said.
“We’re probably playing for pride now. We’ve got to go out there and play for our mates and prove we’ve been doing all of the hard work at training. The ladder doesn’t reflect how well we’ve been playing this season. “If we’d knocked in a few more goals I’m sure we’d be up there and giving the finals a bit of a shake.”
On Saturday at Parkes, the Orange club produced a stirring defensive display in the opening 35 minutes.
Ex-Services repelled a number of United raids before two first half goals edged the hosts to a healthy advantage at the main break.
Servies’ fortunes changed in the second half and the blue and golds enjoyed a heavy amount of possession in Parkes’ territory.
But that weight of possession wasn’t translated into goals on the scoreboard.
“It’s been the story of our seasons so far,” Kennewell said, with Ali Baker a pillar at the back as captain for the Servies girls, while goalkeeper Erin Horan also contributed with some terrific saves for the visitors.
“If I could give a point to all of the girls I would.
“That first half, they attacked us pretty much for the entire half. Then in the second half it was the complete opposite, we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
Servies play Kinross-CYMS next Saturday and after their most recent loss, Kennewell was hoping for a strong showing on home soil.
“We’ll be going for the local title,” Kennewell laughed.
“We want to try and keep that dominant side in Orange tag if we can.”