PATIENCE, composure and fight - they are all qualities that Souths have displayed in the men's Premier League Hockey competition, but on Saturday the two blues used them in combination and for an extended period.

It helped them come from two goals down to draw 2-all with Lithgow Panthers at Bob Roach Field, the strike which locked it up coming with 80 seconds left on the clock.

Though Panthers were the better side in the first half, after the break Souths better controlled possession, often using their back line as they waited for channels to open. They worked harder off the ball, chased back in defence and did not get frustrated when the Panthers repelled attack after attack.

"The fight they showed was what impressed me most. They are a quality side Panthers and no matter when you play them, you have to respect them," Souths coach Ray Winwood-Smith said.

"We probably gave them too much respect in the first half, but the second half was like 'Yeah, we can do this', it was a lot better.

"Instead of falling away we pressed them, we put pressure on their main man - they actually had to move Ronnie Charlton into the midfield to try and get him more ball because he wasn't doing anything back there then - and our forward line worked a lot harder."

While Jono Cole drew a good one-on-one save from Panthers goalkeeper Adrian Baker early in the contest, it was the visitors who looked more threatening in the opening stages.

John Rudge made a good glove save to deny Taylor Dobel, a Nic Milne attempt rolled across the face and two deflections pushed just over the crossbar.

In the 13th minute a goal finally came off a smart Nathan Mitchell flick and when Mick Charlton stole possession and picked out a diving Jordan Savage who connected and found the back of the net, it was 2-0 and the Panthers were looking in control.

But unlike so many times in the past when Souths had become frustrated and tried to rush things in a similar situation, the two blues remained composed.

Cole and Jono Baillie both had attempts saved and while not getting a shot away on their first penalty corner of the match, the second provided a result. Laying the ball off to the left, Daniel Carter's effort found the mark to make it 2-1 at the break.

Though Panthers earned a penalty corner three minutes after play resumed, Rudge blocked the attempt and from that point onwards the momentum rested with Souths.

It took time, but when Stanford dived to turn a Chris Stafford cross into the net with 80 seconds remaining Souths had themselves a well-earned draw.

"The second half was very, very pleasing - the first half, we'll park that one," Winwood-Smith said.

"It's a lot, a lot of work changing behaviours that have been ingrained in players for years, it takes a long time. We are not there yet, but you can see the improvement each week, the patience is better and having trust in our players no matter what position they are in and giving them the ball - it is making a difference."

SOUTHS 2 (Daniel Carter, Mike Stanford) drew with LITHGOW PANTHERS 2 (Nathan Mitchell, Jordan Savage)