WHEN Bathurst City created a one-on-one chance four minutes into Saturday's men's Premier League Hockey match against Lithgow Panthers, it seemed as if the rank underdogs might take a shock lead.

But unfortunately for City they were unable to take that chance.

Instead they finished the match scoreless and Panthers went on to dictate terms to win 11-0 at Bob Roach Field.

Like many of their games this season, City showed glimpses of potential, Blake Davis drawing a pair of sharp saves from Panthers goalkeeper Chris Disbray.

But Panthers were all too often allowed time and space, which helped them quickly transfer the ball and get in behind City's defence.

City also struggled to get the ball clear of the circle after goalkeeper Tom Scott made first-time saves. Depsite what the scoreline might indicate, the young custodian had a solid game.

"They get chances, just sometimes they struggle with converting, that is the drama. But it is nice that we are getting those chances, last year we weren't able to get them and now we are, but we just aren't able to convert them," City assistant coach Shane Jackman said.

"I think once we can do that, and it shows on the scoreboard, we'll get some more confidence.

"We played well in patches. We held them at 4-0 for ages then they scored few close together, then we held them at 8-0 for ages, we just had those little down spots. We just can't quite keep our intensity up.

"We are getting better, but we do need to keep our intensity for the entire game, not just in patches."

While City created the first real chance of the match when Jaden Miller found himself in a one-on-one, he was unable to covert.

Then, just over a minute later when Panthers created a chance, they were able to take it as Travis Cameron tucked the ball in on the right post.

Four minutes later Panthers doubled their tally from a penalty corner play. Scott was able to stop Ron Charlton's initial strike, but Trent McDonald won the ball back and slotted home.

Two more goals came in the four minutes that followed - Mick Charlton and Ryan Bannerman the scorers - and City found themselves down 4-0.

After a promising start the game was slipping away from the hosts and though they temporarily settled and created a chance for Davis which was saved, a drop in intensity hurt them again.

Cameron finished the half with a hat-trick as he dived to deflect in a long ball which had been played into the circle, then showed a nice piece of individual skill to make it 6-0.

In the opening stages of the second half City were once more under pressure, but they were able to repel a pair of penalty corners and a handful of other chances as well.

But McDonald finally converted that pressure from Panthers into a goal and it was followed with another two minutes later - Dane Guffog deflecting in a Nic Milne cross.

A pair of goals from Charlton off penalty corner plays took the score into double figures with just over five minutes left before McDonald put the score at 11-0 with his third in the dying seconds.

LITHGOW PANTHERS 11 (Trent McDonald 3, Travis Cameron 3, Ron Charlton 2, Mick Charlton, Ryan Bannerman, Dane Guffog) defeated BATHURST CITY 0