After that early shock Exies fought back to take the lead at 2-1 with just over 13 minutes of the game remaining, their speed in attack catching out Souths.

Though Souths did manage to find a second goal off a penalty corner, it was the only time they managed to score off the set play from seven attempts.

Exies tenacity in defence, as well as a standout out performance from goalkeeper Paige Aberley, and fast breaks made Kennewell think they'd done enough to earn a win.

"I think we were the better team for most of the game, they got a goal the first 13 seconds of the game, we just didn't wake up, but that woke us up a bit," he said.

"We changed our structure in the second half, they were putting a lot of pressure on us in the second quarter, so we changed our structure a little bit to strengthen up the middle and the back.

"That worked for us and frustrated them. They had a lot of good shots too, our goalkeeper, she probably kept us in the game there a lot of the time.

"So I feel it was fairly even in that regard, but I feel we had more of the run of the ball."

While missing the experienced Ali Baker and Kylie Watts for the match, Kennewell said it was good to give young talents minutes in a pressure situation. It will serve Exies' squad well as the season progresses.

"That will give them a taste of what it's like to tough it out," he said.

Souths coach Ange Johnson found plenty of use for on Saturday even though her side had to settle for a 2-all women's Premier League Hockey draw against Ex-Services.

It was the second week in a row that Souths had to settle for splitting the points at Bob Roach Field and for the second week in a row, they had to come from behind to force that draw.

But Johnson felt her side demonstrated improvement and for her, that was a big positive.

"I think there will be data to come out of the game to actually suggest that we did improve in each quarter, which is a positive," she said.

"Their goalkeeper had an incredible game and you've got to give credit to that, but although the girls could've got frustrated, they continued to move forward, so that's a positive we can take out of this game."

"Ex-Services maintained that grit and that hard contest, so what we have to do is not let frustrations effect our play."

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