There was a bizarre early end to City's big game against Evo-Stik Southern League premier division rivals Corby, when the match had to be abandoned with five minutes left of normal time remaining because of floodlight failure.

The home side were 2-1 down at the time when the lights went out and will now have to wait on a FA ruling as to whether the game will have to be replayed or the result stands.

City chairman Pete Masters said a phase had blown on the main incoming panel.

City boss Steve Tully did not want to play the remaining minutes without the lights, while opposite number Tommy Wright did, leaving the referee Adam Penwell. with no choice but to halt the match.

Referee Penwell took the players off and then allowed 15 minutes before making a final decision and calling the game off, with obviously no hope of a speedy solution.

By that stage many of the crowd of 426 had left Treyew Road.

Some fans, mainly from Corby, complained that the match should have carried on as they believed there remained sufficient daylight to finish, although there was likely to be about five minutes' added time due to injuries.

City manager Tully said to have played on would not have been fair to his team.

He said: “We had just got momentum back and I thought we could nick an equaliser. You could not carry on it that light. I asked our keeper and he could not see the ball.

“A lot can happen in five minutes plus stoppage time. It would not have been fair to play on.”

Corby manager Tommy Wright though took the opposite view.

He said: “I am 100 per cent certain we could have played those last five minutes. Unfortunately the decision was between the referee and the two managers and unfortunately their manager (Steve Tully) wanted the lights on. I hope the result stands.

In the match itself City went 2-0 down to second half goals by Wilson Carvahlo and a wonder strike by Elliott Chamberlain before Ben Gerring gave City hope eight minutes from time.

But all that is now is academic as both clubs await a ruling.

The closest City came to breaking the deadlock in the first half was a fierce free-kick by Ed Palmer which came down off the underside of the bar, with some City fans claiming the ball had crossed the line.

City ended the half on top and continued to press at the start of the second period with Matt Wright heading over before Carvalho broke the deadlock, following up to tap the ball into an empty net after Charlie Burns had failed to hold a Spencer Weir-Daley shot.

Eight minutes later Chamberlain was given too much time on the ball on the left of the area and he made City pay with a superb strike into the far corner giving Burns no chances.

City though refused to give up with Gerring firing home a loose ball following a Palmer free-kick.

The force was with City, but unfortunately they were never given the chance to see if they could find an equaliser.

TRURO CITY (4-4-2): Burns; White, Farkins, Gerring, Greenslade; Green (Pugh 84), Ash (capt), Palmer, Duff (Afful 70); Wright (Hayles 70), Vassell. Subs (not used): Moore, Tully.

Yellow cards: White,

CORBY TOWN (4-3-3): Walker; Kennedy, Malone, Appleton (Thomas 60), Anton; Carvalho, Taylor (capt), Milnes; Chamberlain, Weir-Daley (Byrne 72), Mills (Morgan 74). Subs (not used): Wright, Clarke.

Yellow cards: Malone, Carvalho, Mills.

Goals: Carvalho (62) 0-1, Chamberlain (70) 0-2, Gerring (82) 1-2.

Referee: Adam Penwell (Somerset)

Attendance: 426

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Corby Town’s hopes of claiming a seventh win in a row were plunged into darkness at Truro City.

Having travelled down to Cornwall on Friday for an overnight stay ahead of the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division clash, the Steelmen led 2-1 with four minutes to go when the floodlights failed.

After a lengthy delay, the match was abandoned meaning goals from Wilson Carvalho and Elliott Chamberlain were wiped out.

Tommy Wright admitted after the game that what happens from now will be in the hands of the Southern League and the Football Association, who will now have to decide whether the game is replayed or whether the result can stand.

Wright made two changes to his team from the New Year’s Day success over Histon with Kalern Thomas and Shane Byrne both on the bench.

Connor Kennedy was handed a start along with Spencer Weir-Daley, who hit the winner against the Stutes.

It proved to be a hard-fought first half and neither side was able to find a breakthrough.

But the Steelmen broke the deadlock just past the hour thanks to Wilson Carvalho.

And it was 2-0 with 19 minutes to go when Elliott Chamberlain’s excellent finish found the net.

Ben Gerring pulled a goal back for the hosts as they looked to get back into the contest.

But the final outcome proved to be an abandonment after the lights went out after 86 minutes.

And that meant the Steelmen now have a gap of four points between them and leaders Weymouth, who claimed a 1-0 success over Cambridge City.

Steelmen: Walker, Kennedy, Anton, Malone, Appleton, Milnes, Mills, Taylor, Chamberlain, Weir-Daley, Carvalho. Subs: Thomas, Clarke, Byrne, Morgan, Wright

Goals: Carvalho (63 mins, 0-1), Chamberlain (71 mins, 0-2), Gerring (82 mins, 1-2).