The Dubbo Blue Jays are getting close to their first win of the 2016 Premier League Hockey (PLH) season after a fighting 4-3 loss to Orange Ex-Services on the weekend.
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The Blue Jays played host to the Orange side with the goal of getting their season up and running but it was a first half to forget as the visitors raced out to a 3-0 lead.
But following a pep talk from coach Jane Thompson a more attacking Blue Jays side came out in the second half and they managed to get things all square before Chloe Barrett struck in the dying stages.
“We were down 3-0 at the break and there was a bit of lapses in concentration in the last ten minutes but we regrouped at half time,” Blue Jays defender Kate Corcoran said.
“Jane gave us a good talking to and said we needed to focus and that we didn’t want to be defending the entire second half.”
Emily Lake scored the Blue Jays’ opening goal in the second stanza before Emma Corcoran put away a short corner and then a Courtney Hogan goal made it 3-all.
But in a clutch moment, Barrett nailed a short corner shot with less than five minutes to go to see her side home.
The matchwinner was delighted, especially considering it returned her side to the top two on the ladder.
"Nothing really went wrong for us during that period when Dubbo scored, we just weren't finishing and the 50-50 calls sort of went against us," Barrett said.
"We didn't really drop our heads or drop off or anything. Dubbo are always tougher to beat at home though, like any side, so it's a really pleasing win for us.
"It keeps us up there with the top sides so that aspect is good too."
Rather than be disheartened by such a painful loss, Corcoran said it was just another sign of the Blue Jays’ development this season.
While the side still hasn’t won, the performances have been vastly improved in recent weeks.
“We’re hitting out straps now and it’s a bit late in the season but we want to end on a good note,” Corcoran said.
“We’ve been playing better and there’s a really good fell out on the field.”
The Blue Jays remain six points off second last side Confederates while Ex-Servies still trail runaway leaders Lithgow Panthers.
We're hitting our straps now and it's a bit late in the season but we want to end on a good note
- Kate Corcoran