When second placed St. George took a two goal to nil lead against third from the bottom Central Coast Lightning, it appeared that an easy win was in store, but somebody forgot to tell the Lightning players to read the script!

On a surprisingly mild night at Lisarow St. George started like a house on fire and scored within four minutes after having all of the play in the Lightning penalty area. As early as the second minute Lightning goal keeper Josh Barrett was brought into action

Brad Gibson raced down the right hand side and crossed to an unmarked Hussein Rachid who shot straight at Barrett. Two minutes later Juan Chavez cut the ball back to Gibson who from ten metres fired a rocket like shot under the diving Barrett to open the score.

Saints continued to have all the play, and the young Lightning defenders had no answer to the skills and speed of their forwards. Cutura, Gibson and Peter Crevani were everywhere and Barrett was forced to make a couple of good saves to keep the opposition at bay. It was fifteen minutes before Saints ‘keeper, David Nash was troubled, and that was from a feeble attempt at a shot by Nathan Byrn.

At the twenty fifth minute mark, Cutura went on another run down the right hand side, cut the ball back to Gibson who shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net, from 20 metres, leaving Barrett stranded! 2-0.

It appeared an avalanche of goals was forthcoming but the game suddenly changed! The Lightning youngsters started to tackle and hassle their opponents. Saints appeared shocked by their sudden desire to get into the game and within minutes the Saints goal was under siege! Lightning attacked continuously with Keenan Crum, Brady Smith and Nathan Byrn awakening from their lethargy and starting to cause the Saints defence all sorts of problems.

Ten minutes to go to halftime and the inevitable happened. The ball went down the right to Byrn, who side stepped a lunging opponent and put a brilliant low ball across the goal for a speeding Crum to bury into the back of the net past an astonished Nash.

Lightning lifted even more and firstly Alex Burrell and then Byrn went close. Saints were happy when the referee blew for halftime!

The second half commenced with Lightning reminding their visitors that they had no intention of easing off and the pressure continued. Ten minutes into the second half they attacked down the left. The ball was passed back to an unmarked Byrn and from well outside the penalty he put a low shot through a crowd of defenders which found the back of the net. 2-2!

Surely Saints would come back after that! But no! The Lightning youngsters, continued to tackle, hassle and win the ball. Time after time the Saints started an attack but there seemed to be blue shirts everywhere. The ball was continuously sent back down the other end, and the eventual happened. Lightning took the lead when Byrn again got into the action by picking up a clearance, beating a couple of the opposition and putting another perfect pass, this time to Neil Woodcock, who made no mistake and buried the ball past Nash for Lightning to take the lead.

Nash was forced to make two brilliant saves to keep the Central Coast boys from running away with the game. First a diving fingertip save from Byrn when everybody was about to celebrate a certain goal, and later a miraculous fingertip deflection over the bar when Smith appeared to lob him from ten metres.

Saints made a couple of last minute attempts to equalise, but to no avail.

The impossible had happened. Certain defeat had been turned into a miraculous victory! And didn’t the young Lightning boys celebrate! A few weeks ago relegation threatened, but now it appears that they have no worries and are safe for Super League next year. For Saints, a lesson well learnt. How can you possible throw away a two goal lead? Bet their coach tells them at the first training session!

In all, an entertaining game of football, played In a very good spirit and well refereed by young Jason Blackwood!

Central Coast's next (R20) game is away at neighbouring Northern Tigers - Mills Park, Asquith - Sunday 1st August 2010 at 3pm

Under 20: Central Coast FC 5 - St George Saints 2