Each team traded goals in an end-to-end opening half of hockey to leave the scores at 3-all during the break.

A more composed and improved Souths outfit emerged in the second half to run away with the game, and score their second win of the season over Zig Zag.

The two sides will meet again this Saturday at Cooke Hockey Complex for a sudden death fixture.

Souths coach Ray Winwood-Smith was proud of the way his men overcame several obstacles through the course of Saturday’s game.

“The first half was an arm wrestle. We lost Adam Campbell five minutes in. He took a hit to the knee and needed eight stitches. We had a couple of players pull out late with work commitments as well,” he said.

“We had to move the side around. It was a cold and windy day and it took us a while to adjust to all of that.

“We pretty much dominated the second half. I think Lithgow only got two shots on goal. Defensively we had to change things around a lot, and because of that it took us a while to settle.”

Jono Cole put Souths in front from the penalty corner but Zig Zag’s Hunter Medcalf was able to do the same – twice in a row – to give his team the edge.

Cole scored from the field before Medcalf completed his hat trick.

Souths got their third goal prior to the break, and from that point on the match belonged to the visitors.

“We made a lot of minor adjustments and talked at half-time about how we wanted to move the ball around,” Winwood-Smith said.

“Nic McEwen had an exceptional game. Andy Cranston and Jack Bright were also excellent. The three of them were standouts.”

McEwen also picked up a brace for the two blues.