Parkes United has long been out of contention for a place in this year's men's Premier League hockey competition, but last Saturday in Bathurst, they proved they are still capable of springing an upset.
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On the back of some Cooper Byrnes heroics, United beat Souths 4-1, despite the home side having amassed three times as many competition points as them over 11 rounds.
Parkes showed the value of capitalising on their opportunities.
The visitors had just two penalty corners across the 70-minute contest and scored from both, while Souths had 11 attempts from the set play but could not find the mark once.
United captain Dan Wilson saw a lot of positives from his side’s win.
“I thought that was probably the first time all year we have put a complete game together,” Wilson said.
“Defensively we were great.
“We scrambled well when we had to and to keep 11 second half penalty corners out is an amazing effort.
“The midfield controlled the game and pressured the ball carrier into forcing passes.
“Up front we took our chances when we got them and went two from two on our penalty corners.
“It was a great effort,” he said.
As well as suffering their fourth defeat of the season, the result meant Souths lost second place on the ladder to Lithgow Panthers.
Panthers beat Dubbo 6-0 last Saturday afternoon to draw level with Souths on 30 competition points, but Lithgow's superior for and against record has them in front.
In the first half of the contest, Parkes defied their lowly position on the ladder as the team running second last played with better structure and their passing and trapping was much crisper than Souths'.
Both sides had early chances without being able to capitalise - Souths blowing the best of them when the ball struck Jono Cole's foot in a two-on-one situation - but Parkes looked the most threatening.
It was a quick counter attack that saw Parkes finally open the scoring with 17 minutes of play gone.
Andrew Bourke forced the turnover, played a nice one-two with Brad Gardiner and slotted home into an open goal to make it 1-0.
Five minutes later Parkes doubled their lead when a Gardiner drag flick from a penalty corner play flew into the top left corner.
Adam Campbell got Souths on the board before the break after he beat several defenders then Byrnes at the near post, but it was to be the two blues' only joy.
Souths did better with their circle penetrations in the second half as they drew 10 penalty corners - including four in five minutes - but they could not find a way past Byrnes.
Down the other end, Souths custodian John Rudge produced a fine one-on-one glove save to deny Cooper Wakeman, but Graeme Thompson scored from a penalty corner before Pete Amor made it 4-1 with a field goal seven minutes from time.
Byrnes was the standout for the visitors, but he was well supported by Ben Hawken and Pete Amor.
“We produced the hockey we have shown glimpses of throughout the season,” Wilson said.
“To put it all together against the team that is running second in the comp on their turf is a good way to finish the away part of the season.
“Now it is about turning our attention to Dubbo who are chasing a finals position in their first year back so they will come to Parkes this Saturday hungry for the points.”
PARKES 4 (Andrew Bourke, Graeme Thompson, Brad Gardiner, Peter Amor) defeated SOUTHS 1 (Adam Campbell).