Premier League Hockey: Bathurst City fail to capitalise on chances in 3-1 loss to Ex-Services

The struggling outfit fell into a 2-0 deficit early, before narrowing the gap to 2-1 but unfortunately for City, that's as close as they would come to the hosts as Chloe Barrett's side officially sent the visitors packing with a final goal.

"We started slowly but I thought our second half was really good. We spent a lot of the time in their half of the field but we just couldn't get it in the net," Willott said.

"Credit to them, though... their defence was very good. We tried all sorts of things but just couldn't get through."

Another element of the match that took City by surprise was the freshly-laid turf at the Orange Hockey Centre. After more than a decade, the surface was changed in the lead-up to 2021, and it provided City with some challenges.

"It's just really bouncy," he said.

"We probably should have played a different way. We were trying to do our normal things and just play the ball around the back but it just wasn't happening for us.

"They were just bashing the ball up the other end. They're definitely more used to playing on it."

The results haven't all gone City's way thus far, but Willott is happy with the effort his women are putting in and knows he's got the cattle to shake up the competition.

"From the games we've played so far, we've pretty much been in all of them," he said.

"This competition is so close, it just comes down to who is better on the day. We've got the talent. All these girls are young and they're all learning.

"They're getting more confidence every week and if we can just get that one win, it will change a lot."

Ex-Services will be stoked to get a road win on the board, especially in a contest where there attacking performed so potently.

A pair of contests were played at Orange on Saturday as CYMS and United kicked off proceedings with a 0-0 draw.

Pete Shea's CYMS can't seem to get a win on the board, although they're likely be happy with a share of the spoils against one of the more in-form teams this season.

Next weekend will see the PLH put on its Indigenous Round as Ex-Services will play St Pat's, while City will play Souths.

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