FLOODLIGHT failure saved Curzon Ashton from their first defeat of the season as Warrington Town were denied the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Shaun Reid’s men were 2-0 up with half an hour gone in the hotly-anticipated clash between first and second, when three floodlights on the far side of the pitch went out, causing the referee to halt the game.
Despite the efforts of an on-call electrician, who worked on fixing the problem, the game was abandoned by the officials due to the length of stoppage time.
Just 10 minutes later, all the lights were back on, but Town had already been denied a golden opportunity to move eight points clear and earn a 17th game unbeaten.
They had led 2-0 in no time, taking the lead inside three minutes, when left winger Scott Metcalfe headed home from a right wing cross.
The early setback had Curzon, themselves unbeaten in their 15 league games this season, wobbling, and they conceded a second on eight minutes, when Ciaran Kilheeney (pictured right) sprung the offside trap to knock home a curling ball in by Town captain David Mannix.
Town continued to control the match, and created a couple more half chances, until their march was brought to an unforeseen halt on 29 minutes, in front of a season-high crowd of 348.
The game will now be replayed later in the season, and Town are back in action away at Radcliffe Boro on Saturday.
Top picture shows Ben Wharton going down in the box
The large crowd behind the goal
Scott Metcalfe heads home
Skipper Mannix shoots
Pictures courtesy John Hopkins photography
