BATHURST St Pats sent a strong message, ramming home the fact that if Workies Panthers want to defend their Western Premier League hockey title, they will have to step up a couple of gears.
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The top of the table clash between these two quality sides was played as a part of the Panthers’ Pink Day with a good crowd on hand who were treated to a real goal fest with St Pats winning 8-5.
With the win, St Pats move to the top of the table and are now hot favourites for the 2014 crown.
One of Panthers’ best Dave Marshall said: “I cannot remember any team scoring eight goals against me, not even when I was playing juniors.
“When we were beaten a couple of weeks ago by Orange, we had a handful of players out, but today we have no excuses, they were just too good.
“We have not played well for a couple of months and if we are to defend our title, we are going to have to match St Pat’s speed and fitness.
“They have a great weapon in Matt Naylor who scored four goals through short corners.
“It is simple, we must restrict their short corners.
“The loss was hard to take, but there were some good things that we can take out of the game.
“We did score five goals against them, but it was just not good enough and we can certainly play better.”
Playing on the Panthers’ home turf, they could not complain about their start when Jarrod Cameron opened the scoring in the first few minutes.
Four minutes later St Pat’s hit back through Naylor.
Goals kept coming for the visitors and at half time, St Pats enjoyed a 4-2 lead.
Panthers came out strongly in the second half and it was only the brilliance of goalkeeper Daniel Casey that kept them from adding to their tally.
The second half was much like the first with the Panthers playing well in patches, but letting themselves down with their defence that saw St Pats score another four goals.
There will be a lot of soul searching by the Panthers, but being a proud club they will not take this eight goal defeat lightly.
Best for the Panthers were Dave Marshall who again ran himself to a standstill and Ron Charlton who was his consistent self.
St Pats were more than happy with their win with Brodie Cook saying “that was a top of the table game and we came out of it looking very good.
“We are safely on top now for the time being and I think that entitles us to be favourites.
The Panthers campaign to defend their title must start now and will play Orange Wanderers this weekend at Lithgow and get a bit of belief and enthusiasm back in the side.
