Premier League Hockey: Souths languishing in last place after 3-0 defeat to CYMS

With their finals prospects looking gloomy Souths took on CYMS in Saturday's Premier League Hockey clash with a need for a big result but their coach Chris Stafford said their basic skills were left at home.

The bottom-of-the-table clash was a chance for Souths to show their finals credentials at Bob Roach Field.

Instead a youthful CYMS side ran the two blues off the field in a 3-0 result, with goals coming from Madi Smith, Kayla Russell and Courtney Hogan.

Souths found themselves in an identical position to the previous rounds clash against Parkes United where they were down 2-0 at the main break.

However, instead of coming back to claim a draw like they did on that day, CYMS consolidated their lead in the dying stages of the match and kept Souths off the scoreboard.

"We turned over way too much ball and gave them too many chances," Stafford said.

"CYMS are a fairly young side so they were always going to be fairly enthusiastic. A couple of their younger players had great games, and Phoebe Litchfield ran us around up front.

"We couldn't get our passing and trapping right - all the things we should be able to do."

Stafford said CYMS' hunger for the ball and their structure got them the result that they deserved, and his side needed to lift more in the second half to combat that.

"Conditions didn't help but both teams had to play in it. The turf was slower than normal but maybe our girls were just thinking about it for too long," he said.

"It was exactly the same situation as last week. We had to score early in the last quarter but we just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net."

Stafford highlighted the strong performances of Emma White and goalkeeper Haylea Rogers.