SOUTHS have further entrenched themselves in the women's Premier League Hockey top three thanks to a strong 4-1 win over Ex-Services on Saturday.

The two blues were in charge for most of the contest at Bob Roach Field, but had to withstand a second half comeback from their opposition.

Leading 3-0 with 20 minutes to play, the hosts were given a minor scare as Larissa Atkinson put her side on the board from a penalty corner.

The visitors then poured the pressure on for the next seven minutes and threatened a couple of times to bring the margin back to a single goal.

However, defender Michelle Somers made a long run out of her own half and was on hand to finish off the movement to give her side a valuable win.

"We always knew they would hit back at us in the second half, they're too good a side to keep goalless," Souths captain Candice Falconer said.

"Our scrambling defence was very good though and we were able to shut them down most of the time.

"We have a pretty tough run home now with games against Lithgow Panthers and Bathurst City and away games against Dubbo and Parkes, so this was an important result.

"We just have to stay in that top three."

Souths got on the board early as Ash Corby scored in the third minute after forcing a turnover deep in Ex-Services' half.

Still, the visitors showed they wouldn't be pushovers and had a goal disallowed 10 minutes later for a high ball in the circle.

Soon after that, Haley Butcherine missed a half chance following a swift pass from Jade Williams.

While Ex-Services began to get an even share of possession and territory, they couldn't translate it into goals and paid the price in the lead up to half-time.

Tahlia Cranston won a scrap for the ball in front of goal and slotted home to put her side up 2-0 at the break.

That became 3-0 when Ali Stanford finished off a superb six-pass movement that began on halfway and the result looked secure.

Ex-Services rallied to cut the margin to two and had their chances to trim it further, but their finishing wasn't quite on the money and Somers ended their challenge.

She was among her team's best along with Falconer and Corby, while Kate Butcherine up front and Chloe Barrett were the pick of the Ex-Services side.

"I was pretty happy with the way the girls played in general and the determination they showed, but it was pretty frustrating at the same time," Ex-Services coach Mitch Kennewell said.

"Our last touches in the circle were a bit off and we just struggled at times to get into the right positions."

There was one point of contention during Ex-Services' second half surge when a free hit was awarded to them in attack. Had play been allowed to continue under the advantage rule, they may have scored a second goal.

"You don't want to be blaming referee's decisions, those things just happen and it isn't anyone's fault," Kennewell said.

"There is a bit of a gap now between us and the top three, so we just have to focus on making sure we're in the finals and give ourselves a chance."

SOUTHS 4 (Ash Corby, Tahlia Cranston, Ali Stanford, Michelle Somers) defeated EX-SERVICES 1 (Larissa Atkinson)