ST Pat’s coach Jaden Ekert believes winning the midfield will be crucial to his side’s mission of toppling women’s Premier League Hockey front runners Bathurst City this Saturday.
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City heads into the Bathurst derby as the only undefeated side in the competition, but Pat’s did go close late last month, going down 3-2 in the local derby.
From what Ekert saw in that contest, he knows the Saints’ midfield must be switched on in order to end City’s streak.
“I think it will be a battle of the midfield, it was last time we played,” he said.
“It’s the midfield who does the leg work, who does the ball running and who sets things up for the strikers.
“I think the first game, it could’ve gone either way for either team. They just got that goal with five to go which hurt us.
“The girls are looking forward to it, let’s put it that way … it’s going to be fast and it’s going to be physical.”
One of the reasons why getting on top of City’s midfield is so vital for the Saints is the speed of its rival strikers.
With Jess Hotham now back from injury to join the likes of Kelsey Willott and Lisa Quinn, if City’s midfielders force a turnover the counter-attack will be swift.
It’s the midfield who does the leg work, who does the ball running and who sets things up for the strikers.
- Jaden Ekert
“I think when we last played, it was clearly the quickest game I’ve been involved with in women’s hockey so far and it’s the quickest game I’ve seen,” Ekert said.
“There are no rocks to hide under, that’s for sure.
“Absolutely we can [counter that speed]. We’ve got some sharp girls of our own. Yes they’ve got quick girls in key positions, but if they don’t get the ball they go looking for it and they get out of position.
“That means when we have possession, we have to treat it like gold.”
Aside from a desire to square the ledger against City, the competition points on offer are important to Pat’s push for a top-two finish.
City is currently six points clear at the top of the ladder, while Pat’s, Lithgow Panthers and Confederates are locked on 20 points.
Panthers holds second thanks to its superior for and against record, Pat’s having scored 10 fewer goals.
“Every game is massive. It's a short season and like I’ve said before, if you drop two or three games then you are going to be behind the eight ball straight away,” Ekert said.
“This is a game for us to catch up points wise. I’d expect the girls to be prepared for it.
“City is a very good side, but they do have weaknesses and if we stick to our game plan, we hope to exploit those and exploit them well. But in saying that, the girls have to go out there and make it happen.
“We will be playing the same hockey style-wise as we do every week, but we will be playing a few girls in a few different positions where I think they will be best suited against City.”
Saturday’s match at Bob Roach Field will commence at 2.30pm.