A floodlight failure four minutes into the game saw a long delay but the fans were treated to a shining match after the restart, Richard Naylor and Owen Garvan on target for Town.

In an end to end game of attacking football, Naylor headed Blues in front just past the half hour mark.

Darren Powell equalised for Southampton three minutes into the second-half before Garvan grabbed his first goal for Town with a sweetly struck left foot shot on the hour.

Dennis Wise levelled the scores 10 minutes later with his first goal for Saints and either side could have won the game in the closing stages with a string of chances going begging.

Ricardo Fuller had the only shot of note before the lights went out, the players off the pitch for 45 minutes before full power was restored.

Saints began the brighter after the restart, Brett Ormerod almost getting on the end of a cross at the far post.

Ormerod then had a shot half saved by Lewis Price, the ball drifting away for a corner. At the other end, Dean Bowditch couldn't keep his shot down from close range as Town began to make an impression in the game.

Garvan had a right foot shot blocked on the edge of the box before Saints should have taken the lead, Danny Higginbotham wasting a gilt edged chance by firing wide when Ormerod was open in the middle four yards from goal.

Sam Parkin worked hard throughout the 90 minutes and tested Antti Niemi at his near post then the Finnish international saved brilliantly low down from Garvan's volley.

Niemi could do nothing about Town's opener though, Naylor beating Claus Lundekvam to head home six yards out from Darren Currie's corner.

Town finished the half the stronger and Jason De Vos' header caused panic in the Saints' box, Powell thumping the ball clear.

Fuller then picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Naylor as the half drew to a close with Fabian Wilnis limping off the pitch, Matt Richards replacing him.

Southampton equalised three minutes into the second-half, Powell heading in from a Wise corner.

Jay McEveley, making his home debut, cleared Tomasz Hajto's cross as Ormerod threatened at the far post, then Fuller had a shot blocked by Naylor on the edge of the box.

Richards scrambled the ball away from the goalline as Saints threatened but it was Town who grabbed the lead, Garvan's left foot drive from the edge of the box beating Niemi.

Price tipped over Hajto's 25 yard drive, Richards cleared off the line then Nigel Quashie smacked a shot against the post, Lundekvam sending the rebound over the bar.

Southampton's pressure paid off on 70 minutes, Hajto's volleyed cross headed in at the far post by Wise.

Price denied Quashie with a great save at the near post then the Welsh U21 international produced an even better save to keep out Ormerod's close range strike.

It was Niemi's turn to come to his side's rescue as the game drifted into the last 10 minutes, saving low down from Currie while Price denied Quashie again from 20 yards.

Saints had the ball in the net with the last kick of the game but the flag was raised for offside, leaving both sides having to settle for a point and the fans glad the lights came on.

Town line-up:Price, Wilnis (Richards 45), De Vos, Naylor, McEveley, Peters (Juan 53), Garvan (McDonald 76), Horlock, Currie, Parkin, Bowditch. Subs not used: Magilton, Supple. Booked: Garvan, Horlock.