FOR the second straight week the Dubbo Blue Jays have fought back from a three-goal deficit, with defending Premier League Hockey (PLH) champions Bathurst St Pats their latest victims.
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Seven days after rallying for a 5-3 win over Orange Ex-Services, the youthful Dubbo side scored four goals in 25 minutes after half-time as they reeled in the 3-0 lead they gave to the Bathurst side in the opening stanza.
After a tough and even start it was the under-strength visitors who took the lead when Kristy Conroy found herself open in the circle and slotted her shot past Dubbo goalkeeper Micaela Wheeler.
Two minutes prior to the break St Pats earned themselves a short corner, which was converted on the second opportunity by Amy Glenn before Carly Sandry gave them a three-goal buffer after converting another short corner after the half-time siren.
Whatever Dubbo coach Graeme Waters said to his troops at the break worked because it was a different Blue Jays outfit that took to the Pioneer Park pitch for the second 35 minutes.
The youthful side played a thrilling brand of hockey, running their rivals ragged as they displayed great stick control and precise passing.
Emily Lake was the first beneficiary when she scored six minutes after the resumption of play, and that goal gave the side belief they could reel in their rivals.
When junior representative star Emma Corcoran slotted another four minutes later the score was back to 3-2 and it was game on.
With all the momentum going their way the Blue Jays received a short corner after an incident that saw St Pats defender Kate Hamer given a green card for a poor tackle inside the circle.
Maddie Bott, who looked dangerous throughout the match, capitalised with a precise shot on goal and within the space of 15 minutes the Blue Jays had gone from three behind to level.
And they weren't finished.
In the 60th minute Courtney Hogan gave the home side their first lead of the contest and while St Pats had a couple of late chances, including one that hit the frame of the goal and bounced away, the Blue Jays defence held firm to give them their second consecutive win.
"I thought we were really good in that second half, I just wish we'd stop giving leads away early," Waters said.
"To be able to come from 3-0 down two weeks in a row is a sign of the mentality of these girls but I'd rather not be giving 3-0 leads up in the first place.
"We've won two in a row now, we're improving a bit each week and that's all I can ask for. We had four different goalscorers today so we're doing things as a team, which is a good sign."
Dubbo will face a stiffer test this week when they face Lithgow Panthers at Bathurst's gala day while St Pat's will do battle with Kinross-CYMS.
DUBBO BLUE JAYS 4 (Emily Lake, Emma Corcoran, Maddie Bott, Courtney Hogan) def BATHURST ST PAT'S 3 (Kristy Conroy, Amy Glenn, Carly Sandry)