AS Bathurst City chase their second win of the men’s Premier League Hockey season against Dubbo this Saturday, they will have to do it with a new-look midfield.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
I think the confidence is back and everyone is just enjoying their hockey, the morale is really good at the moment.
- Bathurst City's Mal Willott
On June 4 this year Bathurst City experienced their proudest moment since joining the ranks of the men’s competition when posting their maiden on-field win against Dubbo (3-2).
This Saturday City would love to repeat the dose and continue what has been a string of solid performances, but they will have to do it without Blake Davis, Kyle Reardon or Jacob Hill.
Davis broke his collar bone in last Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of Lithgow Zig Zag. The injury is expected to take six weeks to heal, meaning he will take no further part in City’s 2016 campaign.
Reardon injured his neck a fortnight ago when City pushed Orange Wanderers, while Hill will miss Saturday’s match due to work commitments.
"Kyle got hit in the neck a couple of weeks ago and he's got a neck brace on at the moment,” City team-mate Mal Willott said.
"He got hit on the nerve, so I hope he's okay. He's got to wear the brace until the swelling goes down and then they'll have a look at it.
"Blake, Kyle and Jacob Hill are virtually the midfield, so we'll have to do a bit of a shuffle, but we've been doing that the last couple of weeks anyway.”
After playing a more defensive role for City in recent games, Willott suggested that Isaac Darlington will move back into attack for the Dubbo match.
He was the player who scored the match winner against Dubbo last month.
"We've been doing well in defence, but it's probably hurt our attack a bit. I think we need to have him [Isaac] up front - we can't defend all game,” Willott said.
Despite the required positional changes, Willott said the City playing group is looking forward to taking on Dubbo.
If City manage to win on Saturday, they will almost certainly avoid the wooden spoon as they would hold a 12-point buffer over Dubbo.
Last Saturday’s loss against Zig Zag saw City push a team bound for the finals for the entire 70 minutes. It is an effort which has given them confidence.
"I think we are playing well enough, Souths only had a draw with them [Zig Zag] and were were pretty unlucky against them, so that should give the young guys some confidence,” Willott said.
"I think the confidence is back and everyone is just enjoying their hockey, the morale is really good at the moment.
"I think it will come down to us trying to hold the ball a bit more. I think we are on level pegging with Dubbo, so it is a game we want to go into and win.
"I think they will be tough, they have been going pretty good at home ... it's not going to be easy.”
City will take on Dubbo in Dubbo from 2.55pm on Saturday.