Welling United’s opening home league game of the season ended in confusion when the match was abandoned in injury time of the second half due to floodlight failure.

With the visitors leading 1-0 in the dying moments of the game, the lights at the road end of the stadium went out, leading to play being halted during a stoppage in play while the visiting keeper received treatment.

And after much discussion, the referee made the decision to abandon the game, with a decision to be made as to whether the result will stand at a later date.

As for the action which preceded the bizzare conclusion, a cagey first half saw little to separate the sides. Freddie Norman pulled off a good save to tip over Suley Zudhu’s volley, while both George Penn and James Dyer both threatened at the other end, firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

The Wings could be pleased with their clean sheet going into the break, but it quickly dissolved after the restart after the visitors were awarded a penalty just two minutes into the second half with Sean Simmons adjudged to have committed a foul in the box.

Ollie Peters stepped up and sent Norman the wrong way to make it 1-0 to the Essex club.

Welling showed plenty of industry and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession during the second half, but chances proved hard to come by.

Norman made a good pair of saves to keep his side in the game when he denied Rowan Liburd and George Saunders in quick succession, before sub Greg Cundle forced Aveley stopper Joe Wright into a save at his near post as the Wings struggled to find a way through.

Lekan Majoyegbe diverted a free-kick delivery over the bar from close range in injury time and the Wings continued to apply pressure in search of a leveller when the lights went out on a strange, yet memorable evening.

Both clubs will now await further instruction from the league as to whether the result will stand or the game will have to be replayed.

Welling are back in action at Park View Road on Saturday when they host Lewes.

Welling United: Norman, Williams-Bushell, Dobbs, Majoyegbe, Simmons (Evans 61), Sinai (Antonio 55), Penn (Cundle 75), Paxman, Dyer, Ufuah, Shakpoke.

Subs (not used): Huk, O’Neill.

Booked: Simmons 47 (foul)

Aveley: Wright, Tinubu, Critchley, Machado, Saunders, Peters, Church, Gipson, Zudhu, Henshaw, Brissett.

Subs: Ekpiteta, Liburd, Sartorius, Boachie, Robinson.

Booked: Henshaw 79 (foul), Saunders 86 (time wasting), Critchley 90+3 (foul)

Goal: Peters 48 (pen)

Referee: Stuart Smith

Attendance: 1,014

(Photos: Kieran North and Peter Jozwiak)