Lithgow Panthers took on Bathurst City at home in warm winter sunshine on Saturday, August 1 in round three of the women's Premier League Hockey competition.

The first quarter saw the purple's hold onto possession and despite many opportunities there was no luck in finding the back of the net.

"We had plenty of opportunities out there and they [Bathurst] had two or three against us, we had about eight or nine," Panthers coach David Marshall said.

Heading into the second quarter, a short corner gave Panthers the upper hand with Clare Bosman bagging a goal three minutes in.

With a lead over Bathurst, things were looking well but according to Marshall the ladies lost their structure.

"We played well in that first half but then we just lost our structure, similar to last week.

"We sort of just panicked and we didn't need to," he said.

Despite the pressure from Bathurst with familiar faces of former Panther star Emily Thompson and Zig Zag's Tamika Potter on the opposition, the Lithgow side gutsed out a one-nil win.

"Each team played well and we'll take the one-nil win today," Marshall said.

Stand out players according to Marshall were Amelia Leard up front and Cheryn Van Veen in the backs.

"We were a bit scrambled today but I thought Amelia Leard played well for us today, she hurt her hamstring and then came back on.

"Cheryn Van Veen was a stand out player from seeing how she controlled the back line, without her there today we would have struggled," he said.

Marshall said every win takes on added importance given the shorter season and while his side was undefeated, there's still work to do.

"You try to win every game possible to get a chance at making that top two come semi final time."

"We know what we have to work on and we're doing our best to make sure we are coming out here each week and doing it."

Next weekend Panthers take on Bathurst St Pats in which Marshall said would be a "real test".

"They always give us a tough game each year so they will give us a good opportunity to let us know where we are at," he said.

Bathurst City coach Jill Long said she was proud of side for playing as a team.

"I'm actually really pleased with the way the girls played together because they haven't played much together.

"They're a new side, we've got four new players and they take up central positions."

"I'm actually really proud of them and I think if we make the semis watch out."

Long said stand out players for City were Emily Thompson, Ruby Thompson and Tameka Potter.

Bathurst City play at home next week and Long said she believed home ground advantage was worth one goal.

LITHGOW PANTHERS 1 (Clare Bosman) defeated BATHURST CITY 0

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