Central Coast Lightning lost their second match in a row when they were soundly beaten by Granville Rage at Pluim Park on a warm night, before a small crowd. Rage were simply too fast and experienced for the home team.

The first fifteen minutes was dominated by Granville with Kristopher Holbrook and Nenos Bobo, in particular, making life a misery for the Lightning defenders with their fast runs into the penalty area. Holbrook shot over the bar after ten minutes when it seemed easier to score and five minutes later Bobo repeated the effort.

Lightning slowly improved and started to make inroads themselves with Jamie Lobb putting a great ball into the penalty area to Nathan Byrn only for him to miskick with only Jason Holmes, the Rage goalkeeper to beat. Two minutes later Neil Woodcock appeared to be brought down by a hard tackle by Daniel Carrozza and despite loud appeals for a penalty by the Lightning players referee Kurt Ams waved "playon".

Adam Woodbine then made a good run down the left hand flank and cut into the penalty area only to see his goal bound shot deflected over the bar by a Rage defender. Lightning continued to pressure but the Rage defence held solid with Carrozza generally winning duels with the usually dangerous Byrn.

Neither team, however, looked like scoring and half time approached with a 0-0 score seeming a certainty. With the referee looking at his watch and about to signal halftime, Rage made one last attack. Bobo picked up a long ball through the midfield just outside the Lightning penalty area, rounded his marker, and then Lightning 'keeper Josh Barrett, to put the ball into an empty net.

Lightning coach Peter Preston would have been less than impressed, as the two goals scored against his team the previous week were both scored in exactly the same times, one just on halftime and the second just on full time!

Rage continued their dominance after the half time break, and Bobo added his, and Rage's second goal, with a clinical finish after Fred Graham cut the ball back from the goal line following a good run. It was now all Rage, and the young Lightning midfielders especially, were being given a lesson on short, sharp passing by their quick, experienced counterparts.

Graham scored Rage's third goal when he pounced on a quick through ball by David Harding and gave Barrett no chance with a clinical finish.

In an effort to improve things, Preston made three quick changes, which appeared to lift his team and his tactics proved a success. With four minutes remaining Byrn sent a quick pass to substitute Graham Toope who followed up with a high ball into the Rage penalty area and another substitute Aemon Akamarmoi leapt high to head the ball past Holmes.

Time ran out for Lightning, however, and despite a last four minute flurry and going close to scoring, the match ended with a well earned 3-1 victory to the visitors.

Rage's coach Nick Porreca was naturally elated at their first win of the season. He was even more impressed by his player's actions on the field. "We trained very hard during the week to remedy the faults of last week's game. The boys did everything that they were asked to do and never lost control of the match." said Porreca . "We came here tonight with a match plan and the players carried that out to perfection."

Lightning coach Peter Preston had no complaints. "They were too quick and experienced for our young players, who will only benefit from the experience. We again lost concentration at crucial periods of the match, and I will be endeavouring to fix that problem at training during the week. The season is young and we still have time to correct our errors and play as I know the boys can." Asked if he would make any changes for next week he replied, "We have some good kids in our U20 team and I will probably give one or two of them a start."

Under 20: Central Coast FC 0 - Granville Rage FC 1