DUDLEY Sports and Gornal Athletic are facing an extra game at the end of a long season after Saturday’s clash was abandoned in the final 10 minutes.

The referee called a halt to proceedings when thunder and lightning and hail hit Garden Walk in the 81st minute with the teams tied at 2-2.

Once the storm had passed, the match still could not carry on because of a waterlogged pitch.

Despite only minutes being left in the clash, the game is still having to be replayed next Tuesday, once the rest of the fixtures have been completed.

Sports boss Tony Gore said: “I think the result could have just stood, especially as we were drawing at the time. But the league has decided that it has to be replayed.

“There was another example earlier in the season between two other teams, so the precedent has been set."

“I also think we might as well have just carried on because the worse had already passed. But the referee made his decision and we have to respect that and play again.”

A strike from Josh Taylor and an own goal had put Dudley 2-0 up at the break before Gornal fought back.

Sports now face a busy week as the season draws to a close.

They were due to face Stone Old Alleynians last night before hosting Wolverhampton Casuals on Thursday and Gornal on Saturday.

The replayed Gornal away match means they will play an end-of-season derby double against the Peacocks.

Gore is delighted that his side have secured a top-10 spot and is now aiming to beat the club’s highest ever sixth-placed finish.

He added: “It has been a superb effort from the players to get a top-10 finish again. Even if we don’t pick up another point we have still done fantastically well.

“I want us to finish as high as we possibly can and that is what we will be trying to do."

“You can see tired legs are starting to come into play a little recently, so that may have some bearing on where we eventually do end up.”

The manager says he will be wasting no time in building a side for next season and working to keep the squad together.

“I know a few of the players have already been approached by other club,” he said. “But we will be talking to them and seeing if we can keep most of them for next season.

“I think it is disrespectful from other clubs to approach players when we still have games to play.

“Before now we have had to replace seven or eight players in the summer. Hopefully that won’t happen this time, but if it does then we know what we need to do.”

Meanwhile, Gornal are set to go to Tipton Town tonight before the Dudley double header.