Playing host to Orange Ex-Services, the Blue Jays were shattered by a late strike which condemned them to a 2-1 loss.

Exxies’ Kate Butcherine scored the opening goal of the game just before half-time while Alisa Shaw continued her recent run of form by levelling the scores up with a strike shortly after the break.

But just when it seemed like the game would finish all square Butcherine popped up to deftly deflect the ball past Dubbo keeper Michelle Courtney and seal victory for the visitors.

The two sides went into the match level on points but the win moves Ex-Services to fourth on their own.

Parkes United, meanwhile, had a 1-0 win over Bathurst St Pat’s and move level with the Blue Jays.

Parkes also have a game in hand, giving them the edge in the all important battle for fifth spot and a place in the finals.

With then a 10-point drop to St Pat’s, the race for fourth and fifth spots appears to be between Ex-Services, Dubbo and Parkes.

Elsewhere at the weekend, there was a monumental win for Orange Confederates.

The win was their first of the season and more incredibly, just their third in four years.

Georgia Parr was the hero, scoring a hat-trick, to lead her side to a thrilling 4-2 win over fellow strugglers, Lithgow Zig Zag.

Bathurst City kept the pressure on competition front runners Lithgow Panthers with a 2-1 win over local rivals Souths.

The Dubbo girls will be looking to continue Souths’ pain when they play host to them at Pioneer Park next Saturday.