With the scores locked at 1-all, Jack Hayes scores his second goal from a short corner to seal Albion Park’s victory with the last play of the game.

Falcons had defended staunchly and attempted to catch Park on the counter, before the last-gasp defeat.

However, the task will be just as difficult on Sunday, when they tackle Illawarra hockey’s other premiership heavyweights Uni. The showdown is something of a derby game, with Falcons made up of players from Fairy Meadow and UOW.

Falcons’ Anthony Gibson knows they will have their hands full again, after Uni blasted 16 goals past Dapto last weekend. Heath Ogilvie scored six and Pat Everett four in the demolition.

“We always look forward to the Uni game,” Gibson said.

“The boys were a bit shattered actually after conceding after the siren, they had worked hard after scoring to make it one-all.

“In a way, we’ve been playing a bit above expectations, but they’ve been training really well, it's the main aim of the club to provide competition to Uni and Park.

“They fought hard against Park, so hopefully we can get a result this week.”

ILLAWARRA HOCKEY

Round five

Sunday

Wests v Albion Park at Illawarra Hockey Centre (1.30pm), Falcons v Uni at IHC (3pm), Robertson v Dapto at Croom Road (3pm)

Ladder: Falcons 9, Wests 7, Albion Park 7, Roberts 3, Dapto 0, Mittagong 0.