A SHOCK win over ladder leaders Orange Waratahs has kept the Parkes Cobra's finals dreams alive.
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Sitting one spot outside the top five, Parkes had to win their home clash against the dominant side of the Western Premier League this season, and they did exactly that, winning 2-nil thanks to goals from Daniel Clark and Alec Bateson.
Cobras coach Meaghan Kempson was pumped with the improved performance of her side against their recent form.
"I think there's been a big shift in mentality," she said after Saturday afternoon's game.
"The boys have been very tough on themselves, so I've been reminding them that in one season we have gone from bottom of the table to finals contention with two additional teams being added to the comp.
"They can now see, and believe, that they have genuinely come a long way," Kempson said.
That lack of belief had been manifesting itself into a multitude of easy missed chances in front of goal over the past month or so; it wasn't that the Cobras lacked the class to finish them off, but rather lacked the belief and patience to take the right options.
Kempson said they had a plan to rectify that in Saturday's clash.
"We knew that their goalkeeper was young and making his debut, so the game plan was to apply as much pressure up top as possible, particularly early on in the game," she said.
"Daniel's physicality was excellent, he pinched the ball on halfway and carried it to the 18 yard box, scoring on his second attempt.
"We've actually got our biggest game of the season this Wednesday against Macquarie; it's a catch-up game from the COVID round that was suspended, and Macquarie are only a point behind us and are in the three-way tussle for fifth place."
After Panorama defeated Macquarie United 1-nil, the Cobras have jumped up into the top five, with games against Orana (now in top spot) and Lithgow Workies (who sit last) to come after Wednesday night's clash against Macquarie.
PARKES COBRAS 2 (Clark, Bateson goals) defeated ORANGE WARATAHS 0
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