RICHARD Dryden admitted Worcester City can count themselves extremely fortunate to have been handed another crack at Nuneaton Borough.

City appeared to be heading towards defeat when they trailed 2-0 with 79 minutes gone at Borough's Liberty Way stadium.

However, a floodlight failure led to a 26-minute delay and the players had only been back out for three minutes after the restart when the power failed again.

Referee Terry Simmons consulted with both managers and took the decision to abandon the contest. Worcester manager Dryden said: "We have had a massive stroke of luck and we have got another chance to take them on again."

He added: "It was a bit surreal. They went 2-0 up and it was deserved although we created chances.

"We had them pinned back for long periods of the game in the second-half but I thought we were unlucky to be 2-0 down when the lights went off.

"We were the first team out to get warmed up ready to go again but we were on for three more minutes and the lights went off again.

"The refere gave us the option to carry on or abandon the game and myself and the club had no option."

Dryden wanted to ensure his players did not sustain any injuries as a result of continually warming up, but said he would not have been happy if City had been leading.

He said: "If I was in their boots I would have wanted the game on at all costs, even if it was going to cost an injury to a player.

"They were in a terrible position but I think we would have been foolish to play on.

"We were told that when the lights did go back on they could stay on for five hours, two hours or two minutes. If we had gone back on again it would have been a complete farce had they gone off again.

"I have to look at the welfare of the players and I wouldn't want any pulls or injuries because we had been chasing the game before the lights went off."

Dryden though, who handed a debut to Kidderminster Harriers loanee Jonny Harkness at left-back, was delighted with his team's efforts after the break.

He said: "The positive side was that the 35 minutes in the second-half that we were played was probably the best football we have played since I have been here."

However, he was critical of the events that led to Bradley Pritchard doubling Nuneaton's advantage on 33 minutes, The City manager said: "Their first goal was a fantastic goal with a break from our own corner.

"The second goal was a bit of a farce. Everyone was lined up for an offside free-kick and the referee went back and gave them an advantage which progressed to a free-kick and they nicked the ball in for a scrappy goal."

Meanwhile, Kevin Spencer has returned to Kettering Town following the completion of his loan spell with Worcester. Defender Spencer made eight appearances for the St George's Lane club during which time he proved a danger with his long throw-ins.