Panthers women will meet Bathurst City for the second time in the final rounds of the 2017 Premier League. They are hoping for a repeat of the semi-finals which saw Panthers secure a 2-1 win over the Bathurst heavyweights. 

This time last year, Bathurst City were denied the premiership crown by the Lithgow champions.

City’s 2017 campaign against the Panthers has been undeniably strong, their coach Lisa Quinn publicly naming Panthers as “the team to beat”. And they did – once.

City took down Panthers 4-1 in May, then tied 3-all the second time round. 

But the Lithgow Panthers are confident. 

“We know we can beat them. As long as we play to our game and don’t let them control it,” coach Cheryn Van-Veen said of Saturday’s match-up.  

“They do play a similar game to us, although they play a lot more through the mid-field. We’re going to stick to our game, it’s been working for us.”

Country Championship representatives who were absent from Panthers’ major semi-finals against City, will also be back in play. Amelia Leard (who scored the most goals at the Australian Country Championships in Townsville) goalkeeper Jess Luchetti, Courtney Hogan and Clare Bosman are all on Saturday’s card.

NSW Arrows’ Abigail Wilson did not qualify to play in the finals, having only played three games in the premier season. 

Of course, City’s representative players,  goalkeeper Maddy Tattersall and striker Kelsey Willott, will be back on the field too. 

Coach Van-Veen said the team has been training to challenge City’s strong defensive unit. 

"We’ve been working on intensity. Just being the first to the ball, and not stopping. Pretty much keeping the ball to our players and keeping calm,” she said. 

“We definitely want to get a win at home and a double win with the men would be excellent. It’s going to be a big day.”

If the Panthers women succeed against Bathurst, they will claim their fourth straight premiership title.