CARLISLE United chief executive David Allen is considering lodging an official complaint with the Football Association following Tuesday’s abandoned FA Cup clash at Grays Athletic.

The first-round replay was called off after 20 minutes due to floodlight failure, just moments after Sam Sloma had put Grays 1-0 up.

After around half-an-hour of deliberation, referee David Phillips decided there was no option but to abandon the fixture due to health and safety reasons.

However, Allen said the Essex club’s explanation that the rising River Thames had caused problems with the club's electrics was not good enough.

“We’re obviously very disappointed,” Allen told BBC Radio Cumbria.

“We’ll have a meeting about it but it is obviously very unfair on the club.”

Grays have announced that the re-arranged replay will take place on Saturday, November 29, at 1pm but Allen said the League One side may try and have the game moved to midweek.

Grays vice-chairman Kev Lamb said a full investigation was underway as to why the lights failed for the second time in a week – having already caused the postponement of last week's Setanta Shield clash with Chelmsford City.

“On behalf of Grays Athletic Football Club I would like to apologise to everyone, especially those who made the long journey from Carlisle, for the failure of the floodlights during last nights fixture,” said Lamb.

“The floodlights were tested following their first failure on Tuesday, November 11, and were used during our Saturday fixture against Oxford United without error, the floodlights were also in use from 5pm (on Tuesday) night and did not show any signs of a fault.”

Carlisle have announced that all fans who traveled down to the New Rec on official club transport would receive free travel to the re-arranged fixture.

Meanwhile, Grays have confirmed that ticket holders will receive free entry to the replay or, if they cannot attend, a full refund.