Power failure plunges Portsmouth game at Harrogate Town into doubt

The Wetherby Road stadium is tonight scheduled to host the first-round encounter under the BT Sports cameras.

However, at 6.15pm, a power failure cut off many of the stands’ lights, in addition to the PA system, which at the time was playing music.

Encouragingly, just one floodlight had stopped working – yet the entire stadium was then plunged into darkness at 6.30pm.

The floodlights – except the one – were then restored at 6.40pm through emergency power.

However, the main power remains out of action, with an engineer called from Castleford, a 40-minute drive, to deal with the ongoing issue.

That in itself threatens the match going ahead, while turnstiles no longer powered are not admitting supporters.

Electric officials are battling to restore the remaining power for the eagerly anticipated fixture in North Yorkshire.