Referee, Ian Williamson, from Berkshire, had plenty of chances to put an end to the contest, but decided to prolong the agony for everyone until the 59th minute.

He inspected the pitch extensively with his assistants before kick-off when the rain fell heavily on a pitch that already held surface water.

And he momentarily consulted his fourth official at intervals throughout the match.

Another inspection at half-time resulted in additional minutes being added to allow the two squeezy rollers to mop up the surface water that had accumulated close to the centre circle.

Williamson seemed content to start the second half as light rain fell, but then called a halt to the proceedings just before the hour mark.

His decision surprised and aggrieved the spectators who vented their annoyance as he headed for the tunnel.

The players seemed bemused by the referee's decision and congregated on the pitch near the tunnel area before deciding to shake hands and head for the changing rooms.

Blues boss, Simon Davies, made three changes to the Chester team that had lost 1-0 at Peterborough United on Bank Holiday Monday.

Defenders James Vaughan and skipper Paul Butler returned in place of Tony Dinning and Shaun Kelly, and striker Paul McManus replaced Glenn Rule.

An illustration of how much the surface water was effecting the football was evident after just four minutes when McManus tried to feed striker John Murphy with a throughball, but the ball was held up in a puddle and Stockport cleared the danger.

The visitors did manage to find the net, but Liam Dickinson's seventh minute effort was ruled out because he was offside.

Murphy nearly profited from a backpass by Jamie Smith that found another puddle, but the City forward's shot was saved by ex-Blues on loan keeper John Ruddy's feet.

And Richie Partridge, always struggling to run with the ball in the tricky conditions, saw his 13th minute attempt on goal caught up in a puddle.

Dickinson entertained the home fans with a 25 yard shot that flew well wide of the left post, before strike partner, Anthony Pilkington, fired a 20-yard effort well over the bar.

City keeper John Danby exhibited his shot-stopping skills when he pulled off a superb save to deny Pilkington's eight yard volley in the 37th minute.

Up to 200 Stockport fans were then bizarrely escorted by police and stewards from a packed West Stand, in front of the visitors' stand, and into the corner of the Main Stand 10 minutes before the break.

The decision to take this action during the course of the match infuriated home fans, some of whom opted to find alternative seats some distance away from the County supporters.

The game continued with Partridge feeding Kevin Roberts on the left edge of the six yard box, but the midfielder's shot was saved by Ruddy at the near post.

And the last action of the half saw Pilkington racing clear from the halfway line but pushing the ball too far and into the grasp of a relieved Danby.

Stockport created a string of scoring chances after the break, but Danby held Gareth Owen's 48th minute free kick, and Dickinson ballooned his 20 yard shot over the bar in the 50th minute.

Jamie Smith did well in the 56th minute to beat his marker and find Dickinson in space, but the County dangerman's glancing header was steered fractionally wide of the left post from eight yards.

And Dickinson carved out the final opportunity of the match after dispossessing Paul Butler, but then screwing his shot wide of the mark.