THERE is never a dull moment if you follow Winsford United these days and this Cheshire Senior Cup tie was no exception with the referee calling a halt on 45 minutes following a bizarre series of incidents, none of which involved Winsford.

Cammell Laird proved to be a team so used to success that they did not know how to handle a side that was better in every department and it was only after Winsford keeper Michael Langley was taken to hospital with a broken finger that any threat was posed on the Blues' goal.

There was a sign of things to come when Winsford took the lead after just four minutes.

Iain Stanton's cross from the left proved too hot for Laird's keeper John Gillies to handle and Rob Hanley's overhead kick found the back of the net.

It was all Winsford in the early stages and Rick Arnold was unlucky to see his attempt to chip the ball over Gillies fall just short.

Winsford continued to press and Hanley set up Lee Hughes for an effort from the edge of the box, but the midfielder's shot drifted just wide.

Mark Quinn looked a class above everyone else and he came close to scoring on 25 minutes but Gillies managed to tip his shot over the bar.

It made little difference as one minute later the Blues doubled their lead.

The move started with Langley who was injured when collecting the ball at the feet of Anthony Hargreaves, but he managed a long clearance that found Rick Arnold who cleverly guided the ball around Gillies into the bottom corner.

There was a long delay that ended with Langley being taken for treatment and Stuart Wellstead replacing him in goal.

Just after the restart Lairds scored when Wellstead came off second best in a challenge with Carl Clampitt and the ball drifted into the net.

Injury time at the end of the first period saw the start of the series of incidents that led to the match being abandoned.

A long clearance by Wellstead found debutant Craig Marshall and Gillies chasing the same high ball. Marshall looked favourite until Gillies decided to use his hands, outside the area, to punch the ball away.

There could be only one result and referee Rob Goodwin-Davey had no hesitation in showing the keeper a red card.

Gillies reacted badly to the decision, throwing his gloves at the referee and he was followed off the pitch by Hargreaves who was shown red for protesting too strongly.

The referee blew for half time, but Lairds were not finished and a member of the management team, followed by several players, leapt over the barriers to argue with the crowd. This left the referee with little option but to abandon the match.

WINSFORD: Langley (Mitchell 40), Robinson, Stanton, Givin (Marshall 20), Marsh, Hughes, Melia, Quinn, Arnold, Wellstead, Hanley. Man of the Match: Rob Hanley. Attendance: 87.