A FOCUSED Bathurst City has stormed to a 3-0 women’s Premier League Hockey victory over Ex-Services in Orange on Saturday.
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The visiting City held firm throughout an even first period before storming out of the blocks in the second stanza, hitting home three successful goals to stun Servies and record their maiden win for 2015.
City skipper Casey Bayliss said the key to her side’s brilliant execution in the second term was persistence.
“We were playing well,” Bayliss said looking back on a closely-fought opening half.
“There wasn’t anything necessarily we were doing wrong, we just couldn’t finish and that’s what we need to work on.
“Our fitness showed in that game. I thought they fell away towards the end.
“As the season goes on the fitter we get.”
Hit hard after Andrea Seymour hammered home the first goal - one that deflected off Servies defender Mel Hope - five minutes into the second half, Ex-Services were left reeling when the visitor’s advantage was doubled almost immediately thanks to Danielle Fisher.
The speedy City forward was the beneficiary of some stellar lead-up work from the Bathurst club’s midfield, and duly slammed home the winner with a neat finish around Ex-Services keeper Erin Horan.
With still 27 minutes remaining, Ex-Services had ample time to get themselves back into the round four encounter, but sloppy execution and poor decision-making cost the blue and golds dearly.
Kelsey Willott put the icing on the cake three minutes from full-time to wrap up the three-goal, shut out victory.
“I don’t know what the girls had to drink at half-time ... there were a few funny things going on there in the second half,” Ex-Services co-coach Mitch Kennewell lamented.
“That’s the worst half we’ve played. It was just really scrappy and disorganised.”
Kennewell wasn’t the only one surprised by Ex-Services’ lack of punch.
“Honestly, I won’t lie to you, I thought it would be lot harder than what it was,” Bayliss added.
“They had a good game, got a lot of shots off on goal, but our goalkeeper Maddie (Tattersall) had a phenomenal game - that’s definitely good for her.
“No surprises, we thought they would be strong and they were but I think once we got that first one away the rest flowed naturally and hopefully that’s something we can keep doing this season.”
For the hosts, Chloe Barrett was strong, as was Haley Butcherine in the circle, while for the victors Seymour seemed a tower of strength at the back.
BATHURST CITY 3 (Andrea Seymour, Danielle Fisher, Kelsey Willott) def EX- SERVICES 0.
