Souths will face a big task if they are to play finals hockey after their men's Premier League run of outs continued against Parkes United on Saturday.

The Two Blues went down 3-1 against a determined Parkes side who perhaps didn't have the skill and panache of their hosts at Bob Roach Field, but as Souths coach Mick Marshall said, they came with a game plan and played to it when it mattered.

“They [Parkes] played a really defensive game, they had 11 behind the ball most of the time and in terms of attack they were just hoping to try and score on the breakaway,” Marshall said.

“I actually thought we were probably the better side hockey-wise and we were certainly a little more positive than they were but it just didn’t happen for us.

“We had numerous chances and penalty corners but we failed to convert, while Parkes went out there with a clear plan in mind and they executed it well to their credit.”

All three Parkes goals came from corners, two in the first half giving them a 2-1 lead over the Bathurst side whose lone goal came from Adam Campbell.

Parkes added a third after the break and from there never gave Souths a look-in.

Ian Westcott bagged a double for the visitors while Ben Hawken scored their third.

The upshot of the result is that Souths are still languishing in sixth, and face a crunch game against Dubbo in two weeks to try and get themselves back in the finals race.

The Crows currently sit four points clear of Souths but boast a slightly inferior for-and-against – thanks mainly to a hiding at the hands of St Pat’s on Saturday.

Marshall named Andrew Cranston and veteran Craig Howard among his best in in otherwise disappointing display.

PARKES 3 (Ian Westcott 2,

Ben Hawken) def SOUTHS 1

(Adam Campbell)

– Western Advocate