Bathurst Souths were sitting four points below the Panthers on the ladder before coming into their match-up on Saturday, July 15. Panthers managed to widen the gap at Bathurst’s Bob Roach Field with a convincing 7-1 win.

Brandon Horner scored 4 goals. 

“I’m pretty pleased with our performance. It was a good win,” Panthers’ player Micheal Charlton said. 

“We’ve been up and down, after our loss to St Pats we really wanted to improve. This week against the Souths we were better on the defensive, which has previously been letting us down.”

With only three rounds to go before the finals begin, staying ahead in the ladder is becoming increasingly important.

“I think we are definitely secured in the top two,” Charlton said. 

Souths actually had the first chance of Saturday’s match when earning a penalty corner in the fourth minute, but Panthers goalkeeper Logan Hunter came up with a top stick save.

Panthers’ first chance came at the nine minute mark, and found a result. Brandon Horner got in behind the defence and the ball spilled to Taylor Dolbel who fired into an open net.

Panthers made it 2-0 when Trent Macdonald scored off their first penalty corner play before two goals in as many minutes – Horner and Jake Lewis capitalising on quick counter-attacks – pushed the score out to 4-0.

Souths needed to be the first to score after the break to be any chance of a comeback and Daniel Carter provided that hope when he cleaned up off Hunter’s pads following Cole’s initial shot in a penalty corner play.

But while Souths continue to find itself in attacking position and notched up the circle penetrations, Hunter made sharp blocks - including a one-on-one save against Cole – and Panthers’ defenders scrambled well.

When Horner once more got in behind Souths’ defence on the back of a smart long ball he made it 5-1 and just over 60 seconds later he struck again.

Three minutes from time Horner made it four for the match with a slick reverse stick effort in a penalty corner play.

“Brandon Horner, who was up the front centre, played really well and our goal keeper Logan Hunter had a good game,” Panthers’ Micheal Carlton said.