IPSWICH Town are still no closer to learning who their FA Cup third round opponents will be after Droylsden and Chesterfield's match was abandoned for the second time last night.

Stuart Watson

IPSWICH Town are still no closer to learning who their FA Cup third round opponents will be after Droylsden and Chesterfield's match was abandoned for the second time last night.

League Two side Chesterfield were leading 2-0 at their Blue Square North hosts courtesy of goals from Jack Lester and former Town player Darren Currie either side of half-time.

But the game was abandoned after 70 minutes due to floodlight failure meaning the two teams will have to meet for a fourth time.

The FA today confirmed that a decision on another replay date will be made as quickly as possible.

However, with just over two weeks and a packed Christmas schedule of fixtures between now and January 3 - the weekend scheduled for the third round fixtures - a question mark has been left hanging over whether another replay can be squeezed in by the time the victors are due to travel to Portman Road.

Last night Chesterfield manager Lee Richardson said: “Could we have got to the end of the game without any incident if both teams had agreed? I think we probably could.

“It's unsatisfactory for me. I don't see why the game couldn't have been finished but hey ho, we'll go again.”

This second round tie was abandoned at the first time of asking because of fog - Droylsden having led 1-0 at the break.

And when the sides met again, the tie went to a replay following a controversial 2-2 draw. In that game Chesterfield's Lester had netted following a throw-in after the ball had been put out for a player injury.

The visitors protested furiously and eventually the two teams decided that Droylsden's Steve Halford was allowed to walk the ball into the net unchallenged from the ensuing kick-off.

Meanwhile last night, Matt Richards netted a penalty in a shoot-out for Brighton and Hove Albion as the south coast side beat Shrewsbury to go through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area final.

Richards, who is still on Ipswich's books, struck the Seagulls' fifth successful kick before Shrews striker Grant Holt was the only man to see his spot kick saved.

Billy Clarke, another Town player out on loan, was also on target in a shoot-out as his Darlington side lost 4-2 on penalties at Rotherham after a 1-1 draw in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern semi-final.