ST Pat’s were staring down the barrel of defeat in Saturday’s men’s Premier League Hockey match against Lithgow Zig Zag as they trailed by a goal in the dying moments at home.
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However, a late shot from Dominic Wilde on a Saints penalty corner salvaged a 2-all draw in a quality contest.
The match at Cooke Hockey Complex between two of the competition’s leading squads was expected to be a thriller, and with its last minute equaliser it delivered.
Pat’s coach Shane Conroy said his side weren’t short of opportunity to claim four points from the match, instead of the two they walked away with.
“They scored on the stroke of half-time. We went out and dominated the second half but we just couldn’t put our chances away,” he said.
“We were able to finally score in the last three minutes. If we lost it would have been a very disappointing result. In saying that Zig Zag played really well. It was a very hard, fast match.”
Pat’s had the bye last round and it was evident that the team needed to get the cobwebs out of their system in the opening half of Saturday’s game.
Evan McGrath and Hunter Medcalf found first half goals for Zig Zag, putting themselves back in front after Isaac Darlington had earlier levelled the scores for Pat’s at 1-all.
Wilde’s shot ensured both Pat’s and Zig Zag remain level of the PLH ladder, each on 14 points.
Lithgow Panthers have shot past both sides on 16 points after Parkes United forfeited their match on Saturday.
Conroy said Zig Zag have showed what they’re capable of so far this season.
“I think they’re the benchmark of this competition. They’ve had the same group of guys together now for the last two to three years and you can see that they know each other’s game well,” he said.
“We had a couple of players out for this game so it’s a pretty good result for us.
“I thought Tyler Willott had a great game for us and worked hard through the midfield. Everyone had a good game though, no-one had a bad day.”
If Pat’s want to get themselves back on top of the competition Conroy knows what needs to improve.
“Our first touches and ball control was probably what let us down most this game,” he said.
“I’d put that down mostly to the disrupted season we’ve had. That team cohesion will come together for us as well with more games.”
Pat’s have now claimed three wins, a draw and a loss from their five matches this season.