Sloma 'gutted' by abandoned match

Grays midfielder Sam Sloma has said he was "gutted" his goal against Carlisle in the FA Cup counted for nothing.

Sloma had just given the Essex side a 1-0 lead in their first-round replay, when the match was abandoned due to floodlight failure.

He told BBC Essex: "We're gutted, we were playing so well, had scored a good goal and were hoping to take it on and maybe get a win.

"But it wasn't to be, so we'll just have to go again."

The rearranged tie will now take place on Saturday, 29 November.

Tuesday night's match was abandoned after 21 minutes when one of the four floodlights at the Blue Square Premier club's Bridge Road ground failed.

Sloma felt that, from a player's point of view, the match could have continued with just three-quarter lighting but agreed the right decision had been made.

"I had a long chat with the linesman about that, because I thought we could play," he said.

"But they see it as a health and safety risk to some of the fans in that corner and unfortunately rules and regulations take charge in those situations.

"It's just one of those things, there's nothing you can do, it's not the referee's fault that the floodlights have failed and that's it."