In a tough match against Bathurst Souths, Lithgow was able to come away with a 3-1 win but it wasn't easy.

The first quarter saw the girls hold 90 percent of the possession but despite having multiple short corners they just couldn't put one into the net.

"Generally across the field we played well in patches but for us it was a bit disappointing how we didn't keep our structure like we did last week," Panthers coach David Marshall said.

"We lost our way a bit with trying to play the ball too long and we had multiple, multiple opportunities and we just couldn't put the ball in the net but if we don't start doing that it keeps sides like Souths in the game, who are quite capable of coming back."

The girls once again had multiple chances in the second quarter but a brilliant save from Bathurst goal keeper Haylea Rogers kept the Lithgow side at bay, going into half time nil all.

"We took a lot of confidence out of not conceding a goal in the first quarter when Panthers really had us under the pump the whole time," Souths coach Chris Stafford said.

But five minutes into the third quarter Lithgow's Caitlin Burns put one into the back of the net after another short corner.

"I thought Caitlin Burns, who played her first game for us today played very well, and at the back Elissa Marshall played well for us," Marshall said.

Bathurst wasn't out of the game though and four minutes later Danielle Fisher put in Souths only goal for the match.

"We had opportunities when we went up there, a limited number of opportunities, but to put one in was good, we probably only left another one out there on the field," Stafford said.

In the final quarter Lithgow excelled and five minutes in Ashley Luka seized an opportunity and put one into the back of the net, and then four minutes later Burns scored her second goal of the match to take the game 3-1.

"Full credit to those Souths girls, they played well, they missed a couple of opportunities which could have put them in front as well, overall we deserved the win I think, but we still have a lot to work on," Marshall said.

"We still have a long way to go and it's only the start of the season...still, a good win for us today."

Stafford said his side did well to stay in the game considering Panthers had "a dozen maybe 15 short corners".

"We had two or three which indicates they had majority of the possession and the field position, so the fact it was 3-1 is a massive credit to our girls," he said.

"I mean the way the game went and the possession Panthers had, they deserved to win, they are a very good side, very quick and transfer the ball really well.

"I thought it was a very entertaining game to watch to be honest."

PANTHERS 3 (Ashley Luka, Caitlin Burns 2) defeated BATHURST SOUTHS 1 (Danielle Fisher)

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