BATHURST City have once more proven that they are a side who know how to get things done when it matters, winning a thrilling women’s Premier League Hockey major preliminary semi-final over Parkes 1-0.

Playing at home having finished the regular season in second, Parkes had reason to be confident going into the match. However, they could not find a way to breach City’s defence in 70 minutes of evenly matched hockey.

By full-time the only thing separating the two sides was a first half goal to Tanya Lowe from a short corner, yet another in a long list of game changing efforts from City’s longest serving player.

The win was made extra sweet for City given that they had plenty of issues with player health before and during the game.

“It was a very, very tough game of hockey,” caretaker coach Jill Long said.

“It could have gone both ways and both sides had enough chances to win the game, but only that one goal came from Tanya. 

“There were a lot of short corners that went our way, but to Parkes’ credit their defence was excellent, and even in the last two minutes of the match they were still pressing to try and get the equaliser.”

In the last meeting between the two sides there was no shortage of ill-will as a punch up saw one player red carded and another shown yellow.

There was none of that this time as two quality sides traded attacking raids from start to finish.

It was no surprise that Lowe scored the winning goal given her record in big games of being able to convert when it matters.

“There was no ill-feeling in the game, everybody just played hockey, it was played as a semi-final should be. And the usual semi-final nerves were pretty evident too with some mistakes and bad decisions at times,” Long said.

“Tanya is the rock of this side and has been for a long time, she just knows how to finish under pressure.”

The result proved that the four-time champions can compete for yet another title and the manner in which they did it was something to be proud of, as Long explained.

“We had Dani Fisher hurt herself during her club match on the morning of the game, so she was a withdrawal,” she said.

“Casey Bayliss was very ill during the match and was battling the flu the whole way through it, and Jess Hotham took a fairly serious hand injury into the game that restricted her.

“Kelsey Willott was another who was under an injury cloud with a knee problem, so to compete as we did says a lot about our attitude.

“The young players stood up like Chaise Holland, Emma Cartwright and Ivy Moore, it was great to see them do such a good job in such an important game.”

City will now play Lithgow Panthers in Lithgow this Saturday for the right to host the grand final, while Parkes host Souths in an elimination final.

Long and fellow caretaker coach Maureen Markwick will hand the reins back to Scott Anderson for that match.

“I’m very happy to be giving it back to Scott, he can have it. Maureen and I both had too many nerves for that match,” she said.

BATHURST CITY 1 (Tanya Lowe) defeated PARKES 0