Well, this is a change.
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On the back of five seasons of pain since re-inception into the women’s Premier League Hockey competition in 2012, Confederates has hit the ground running in 2017, knocking off premiership contenders Bathurst Souths 2-1.
All three of the game’s goals were netted in a frenetic five minute period after Pip Mannix hit the opener at the 12 minute mark, Meghan Booth (15th minute) levelling up for the two blues before Millah Allcorn’s deft touch to pass Souths keeper Kate Brown in the 17th minute ultimately proved the decisive play in the round one encounter at the Orange Hockey Complex.
In 2012, it took nine rounds for Feds to bring up win number one for the year.
The club didn’t win a game at all in 2013.
And from there on, the story has been similar, with slow starts in 2014, first win round 11, 2015 (round six) and 2016 (round eight) leading to tough campaigns.
That pain certainly looks like ending in 2017.
“We can’t get too carried away,” coach Fiona Reith warned.
“I said to the girls before the game, it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, but to win the way we did was great to see. It was frenetic out there at the beginning, so to hold off Souths, a class side, we’re really happy with that.”
New recruit Rachel Divall orchestrated the win from the midfield, her experience at a representative level set to have a massive impact on the young red and blues in 2017.
Heidi Townsend was also outstanding for Feds, a side that was peppered in the opening stages of the contest only for keeper Kath Cox to repel each Souths raid.
“And I think that steadied us, to a degree,”
“I think the girls were a bit nervous there to begin with and Souths took advantage of that to earn a number of corners early, but once we worked through that we grew and played really well.”
At this stage of the season, any form of win is gold. Four points is four points.
But Reith said the manner in which her side chalked up its victory was a pleasing sign for things to come this winter.
“We really had to grind it out,” she added.
“Souths are a great side and they didn’t give us anything for free. We worked for it.”
Ominously, Feds still have two of their best players to return to the fold too, with Eva Reith-Snare (national under 18s) and Ellen Van Hoek missing from Saturday’s win.
Despite the loss, the two blues aren’t kicking stones.
“I said to the girls to keep their heads up,” Souths mentor Damien Carter said.
“We’re playing one of the teams that everyone’s talking about and you deserved at least a draw out of it.”