Floodlight fire sees game abandoned

FC STRATFORD’S first home league game of the season was abandoned in bizarre circumstances after one of the floodlights at the Arden Garages Stadium caught fire.

Referee Will Cemis called the Midland League Division Two clash off at half-time, as a fire crew arrived at the ground to tackle an electrical fault.

The fire put an end to an entertaining game, where Stratford had taken the lead through Johedi Makuba before Feckenham hit back five minutes before the break.

“One of the floodlights at the base of the electrics must have been short.” said FC Stratford manager, Nick Ballinger.

“It started smoking quite heavily and began to crack and pop.

“It was a shame as it was a great game between two good sides.

“We could have been 3-1 up at half-time. It was a very good performance.”

Meanwhile, Earlswood Town boss Ade Luxton felt his side were punished for not taking their chances in Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Northfield.

Earls were looking to build on Saturday’s impressive victory over Lane Head, but a clinical Northfield took their opportunies and the points at Shenley Lane.

Luxton said: “I’m obviously disappointed to lose the game, but there were positives during the 90 minutes which were encouraging.

“Northfield are a big, strong side and I thought we matched them all over the pitch.

“We missed chances and they took theirs, ultimately that sums it up.

“We had to change things from Saturday due to such an early kick off (6.15pm), but the lads who came in did well, which proved to me we have strength in depth.

“With no game Saturday it gives us a lot of time on the training field before our next game, plus it also gives a couple of players with injuries more time to recover.”