Buoyed by a Chloe Barrett winner - the game’s only goal - the blue and golds rebounded from last week’s horror 7-1 mauling at the hands of runaway competition leaders Lithgow Panthers, a side that whacked Bathurst Souths 8-0 on Saturday, with Abby Wilson scoring four goals in the one game for the third straight week.

Barrett nailed the game-defining goal with four minutes remaining on the clock, her side able to hang on and claim the crucial road victory.

“We worked and worked and worked in that final few minutes,” the Servies skipper said.

“We wanted it really bad and it was great to hang on. It was a really tough game.”

Barrett said the blue and golds dominated territory but stout defensive work from the Parkes backfield defied most Servies raids.

That was until deep in the second term when Ex-Services worked a perfectly timed short corner opportunity, with Barrett’s final touch finding the back of the goal to edge ahead by one in the dying stages.

Barrett praised the work of Smith sisters Madie and Libby, while goalkeeper Jess Cullen was sensational between the sticks.

“She pretty much kept us in it,” Barrett added, her side now third on the ladder.

“We really want that top three spot ... we had it but after having our points stripped and then that loss to Panthers, we dipped a bit. We’re working really hard at the moment and we know we can step it up.”

ORANGE EX-SERVICES 1 (Chloe Barrett) def PARKES UNITED 0