Saints' chances looked promising in the first five minutes of play but they failed to create any real chances and for the next twenty minutes the attacking play was all in Coffs' favour.

The Lions had a shot hit the crossbar at the seven minute mark before goal-keeper Jacob Lyttle saved another two minutes later with Coffs failing to pounce on the rebound with a poor miss.

Another four goal-scoring opportunities came the way of Coffs but Saints had Lyttle to thank who pulled off numerous saves and thwarted various dangerous situations before they came to fruition in a Manuel Neuer type first-half performance.

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In the 27^th minute Saints' Thomas Fletcher was presented with a one-on-one opportunity against Coffs goal-keeper Jake Mahoney but the shot was stopped.

Coffs then had another three chances to score but were unable to break the deadlock with Saints also missed out on two chances before the break.

Kempsey did well to keep the score 0-0 at half-time after withstanding a barrage of attacking pressure from the opposition.

The second-half started reasonably well for Saints with Nick Wright heading a tough chance over the bar and Coffs' dangerous striker, Mabior Garang, given a yellow card a minute later.

One of the biggest moments in the match came in the 16th minute with Saints' Harry James brought down in the penalty area with the referee ruling a foul much to the dismay of Coffs supporters.

Usual penalty taker, Cedric Bloedorn, had gone off earlier with an injury leaving striker Nick Wright to step up to the plate.

As Verge Street went silent Wright ran up and hit his strike to the bottom right however Coffs' goal-keeper proved up to the challenge, parrying the shot away.

Saints then had a free-kick outside the box seven minutes later however that chance was also saved as Coffs then went on a rampage.

A mistake from Kempsey at the back saw substitute Martin Kelleher finish an easy chance to make it 1-0.

Kelleher then sealed the match in the 42nd minute with a quality finish just gliding past the gloves of Lyttle to finish the game at 2-0.

"The effort was good, we certainly didn't play our best game, their passing caught us out in the midfield but we scrambled well in the first-half and did well to keep it at nil all," Saints coach Kevin Sinclair told the Argus after the match.

"A couple of chances we had in both halves didn't go our way and that made the difference in the end."

Sinclair was also full of praise for his goal-keeper after his stellar performance.

"Jacob Lyttle's a champion, he's played at the highest levels locally and he's as good as they come," he added.