SOUTHS are running out of time to force their way into a women’s Premier League Hockey finals spot.

Their job doesn’t get any easier this Saturday either as they face St Pat’s in the Bathurst derby at Bob Roach Field.

The two blues lost 3-1 loss to Pat’s earlier this season in an effort which was typified their campaign. They were competitive, but left empty-handed.

The Saints wrestled the game away from Souths after it had been 1-all.

Souths’ 3-2 loss to Bathurst City last Saturday was again a showcase of their potential, but again some nervous moments cost them game.

At 2-1 up Souths looked in control against City, but as they squandered possession in the second half, they gave their opponents too many opportunities.

It is maintaining that intensity for an entire 70 minutes and a stronger passing game that Souths coach Adrian Cox wants to see on Saturday.

“We spoke on Tuesday night about how the game got away from us. It should not have been a game that we lost, even a draw would have been something good to take away from it,” he said.

“With Bathurst City up there on the ladder though, it gives us confidence that we’ll be able to take it to anyone. We have what it takes to do that.

“If we want to make it into the semi-finals, then we’ve got to win pretty much every game from here on. We’ll be committed and desperate for the win.

“We need to go back to holding the ball, looking for possession over passes.”

Improving their position doesn’t quite look akin to climbing Mount Everest for Souths just yet, but a loss this week could make it so. 

There are four points separating Souths from fifth-placed Parkes United, but Parkes have a very winnable match this Saturday away to Lithgow Zig Zag.

Souths will be assisted by the loss of Pat’s captain Kristy Ekert to suspension.

“They’ll be without Kristy Ekert because of the red card she got at Dubbo last week. She’s a very dangerous player. Not having to worry about her is a big bonus for us, but they will still be dangerous up front,” Cox said.

“For a long time in our last match against them it was 1-all and then they got two goals, one of them an own goal from our own stick.

“We’ll have a talk before the game about trying to make sure we don’t make those second half mistakes again.”

Saturday’s game starts at 12.20pm.