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" For the 15 to 20 minutes I felt that we were the better team, we got very, very tight to them, managed to score a goal and we were on top. What can you do?, the lights have gone and you have got to get on with it really, there is not a great deal we can do about that. We looked dangerous at times, we had created the better chances and we had our gameplan and we stuck to it.
" We said to the players that in the first 20-25 minutes we were going to get really tight to Carlisle and we did that. Our gameplan worked very, very well and it is unfortunate, we are bitterly disappointed, the players are bitterly disappointed but what can we do? After about 15 minutes I saw a flicker in the corner and I looked at their goalkeeper (Ben Williams) and he looked over at the corner, so I thought that something wasn't right there.
" It looked like it had gone a bit darker then it went completely and I knew from then that possibly the game couldn't continue. What happens if it goes after 75 minutes, are we going to feel more devastated then? In the end it has gone after about 20 minutes but I was really pleased with my players, the way that they had implemented what I had asked them. We were the better team I felt for the 20 minutes.
" We have got to get the players up for the next game now and it is going to be difficult because the staff spoke together and you maybe get one chance against a League One side. Possibly two chances but three chances, who knows, but we will be giving it a go. There is no pressure on us, they are expected to come here and win the football match but I was really, really proud of my players tonight, even though it was only for 20 minutes. "
While Grays goalscorer Sam Sloma commented :
" I'm very disappointed, it was a good goal and we were playing well, so hopefully when the chance comes again I can do it again. We started well as a team, I felt comfortable out there today and we were playing well, it was just a game that was going nicely for me. So I am personally very disappointed and disappointed for the team, and the possible financial implications could be even more trouble, so it is very disappointing tonight.
" It was mixed feelings from the players, the financial implications are worrying, we try not to get too involved in that because otherwise it can drag you down. On the positive side though we were really playing well for the first 20 minutes. They are a League One side and they had a win on Saturday against Brighton so we have to try to look at the positive in how we were playing. We have to take that into the next game and get a bit of momentum going for our league position.
And referee Dave Phillips said :
" Once the floodlights failed I took advice from the club and experts looking on. The situation, they actually informed me that there was no way that the lights would come back on. In conjunction with the safety steward the final decision was made in the interests of safety. We can't play with three sets of floodlights so the game was abandoned. Everybody accepted it, naturally everybody is disappointed in such an important game for both clubs. Who knows if I will be in charge for the next game, that is a decision that the FA will make. "