While it was not to be as the Panthers went from a 3-2 half-time deficit to win 6-3 at Bob Roach Field, the Saints still gave their confidence a boost.

They walked off the field having managed to push the defending premiers in a performance Saints coach Kristy Ekert believes will have other teams in the competition taking note as well.

“It was a great start, we stuck it to them. I think they will be a little bit worried now, they are not unbeatable, that’s for sure,” she said.

“I said to the girls, as long as you have confidence in being out there, you will stick it to them no worries. You have got to think they are beatable. I know how good a side they are, but every side is beatable.”

The Panthers went into the match as warm favourites, themselves and Parkes the only undefeated sides after five rounds, but it was the Saints who struck the first blow.

Attacking down the left wing then working her way into the circle, Ella Menzies managed to convert from a tight angle to give her side a surprise lead after just two and a half minutes.

Two minutes later the scores were level as a brilliant pass from Abby Wilson picked out Roxsanne Van Veen on the charge, but the Panthers were not allowed to get on a roll after that strike.

Wilson was certainly a danger as she showed her skill and speed down the right wing, but fresh from her tour with the Australian Country side, Pat’s goalkeeper Karen Fieldus pulled off a number of sharp saves.

Brigette Cook played some smart balls through the midfield, while Kath Messer tested Lithgow’s defence as well with a number of probing runs.

While a quick counter attack launched by Amanda Saladine led to Wilson scoring for Panthers to make it 2-1, the final 12 minutes of the half belonged to Pat’s.

Messer’s persistence in winning the ball back after being tackled saw her square things up before a Georgina Adams intercept led to Menzies bagging her second for the match.

With 48 seconds of the first half remaining, Pat’s came within inches of having another, Messer deflecting a Katrina Naylor cross just wide, but with a 3-2 lead things looked good for the blue and whites.

In the second half it was little surprise to see the Panthers come out hard, but again Pat’s rose to the challenge as Sophie Clarke cleared one attempt off the line and Fieldus made a class save off a Wilson shot.

However, two goals in as many minutes to Saladine handed Panthers the momentum. One came from a lucky deflection, the other as she was released by an overhead pass – a tactic which unsettled the Saints.

When Lauren Judge scores a rare goal it gave Lithgow a 5-3 lead with 18 minutes left, and though the Saints even employed the tactic of subbing off Fieldus and using Clarke as a kicking back to give themselves an extra attacking player, the Panthers were not to be denied.

They iced the win with a second Van Venn goal with 29 seconds left on the clock.

“Half-time killed us I think, it would have been nice to keep going,” Ekert said.

“They went out there and did it right in the first half, I don’t really know what happened to us in the second half. I think [Lithgow] decided to go a lot in the air and that was the only the way they got through us.

“So we have to work on taking those balls down to our benefit.”

LITHGOW PANTHERS 6 (Roxsanne Van Veen 2, Amanda Saladine 2, Lauren Judge, Abby Wilson) defeated ST PAT’S 3 (Ella Menzies 2, Kath Messer)