EX-SERVICES were forced to come from behind to win their women’s Premier League Hockey game against cross-town rivals Confederates on Saturday.
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The Orange derby had plenty of action and Confederates featured early to lead 2-nil after 12 minutes.
However, Ex-Services built momentum after the slow start to score five unanswered goals and win 5-2.
“If we could scrap the first 10 minutes it would be good,” Ex-Services coach Mitch Kennewell laughed. “They regrouped pretty well. They could have easily lost their heads after 2-nil down. They fought back well and played the sort of hockey we wanted to.”
In the other dugout, Confederates were lamenting an opportunity lost.
“The girls said it was one of those ones that got away,” Feds coach Mark Pengilly said.
“It’s just keeping that pressure up for the whole game. They kept coming at us.
“It’s probably a bit disappointing in the second half that we didn’t play our game, but overall it was good.”
Georgia Parr opened the scoring in the game’s third minute before Tayla Middleton made the most of a Belinda Ferguson pass to push Confederates out to a 2-nil lead.
Ex-Services didn’t let their slow start shake them as they levelled the score at 2-all with just under 10 minutes left in the opening half.
Kasey Byrne was first to score for Ex-Services 17 minutes in and Leanne Kennewell converted her chance in the circle to make it 2-all with just under 10 minutes remaining in the opening half.
The second half was tight, however, Ex-Services were able to convert their chances with Ali Baker deflecting the ball into the goal three minutes into the second stanza.
Byrne nailed her second to make it 4-2 and Haley Butcherine had the final say for Ex-Services, perfectly deflecting a Rachel Pengilly ball with five minutes left on the clock.
Kennewell was impressed with forwards Haley Butcherine and Jade Williams, but saved special praise for fullback Rachel Pengilly.
“She controlled the back and she’s coming of age after the finals last year,” Kennwell said.
“She’s taken a leadership role at the back. She’s young so hopefully she’s around for a while.”
Mark Pengilly singled out Tel Schumacher and Rach Hinds as Feds’ best.
Ex-Services’ second win in a row allows them to jump from eighth to sixth on the women’s PLH ladder.
The women’s PLH game between Kinross-CYMS and Dubbo was deferred. The women’s competition will have two weeks off before returning on May 3.
ORANGE EX-SERVICES 5 (Kasey Byrne 2, Haley Butcherine, Leanne Kennewell, Ali Baker) def ORANGE CONFEDERATES 2 (Georgia Parr, Tayla Middleton).