REFEREE Chris Parsons dropped an unholy clanger at the end of Saturday's NWCFL Second Division Cup tie at the Barton Stadium.
Despite being advised beforehand that the rules insisted upon extra time, he called time at the end of 90 minutes and took the players off and they did not return.
It left fans, told over the tannoy pre-match that extra-time had been allocated if necessary, perplexed.
They shuffled off home while officials tried to sort out the misunderstanding.
It was officially Leek's home game but they switched venues because their ground was unavailable.
It was Monday afternoon before the League decided the result should stand and the second meeting - also at Winsford tonight (Wednesday) - would be a replay.
Another meeting would not have been needed had Blues taken some of the extra chances they created and, with Leek's goalkeeper Gavin Deaville sent off, the odds would have been heavily in Winsford's favour for the additional 30 minutes.
United took the lead in 20 minutes. Dave Hanlon's free kick was perfectly placed for Les Miranda to steal behind the wall and find the net with a neat header.
CSOB levelled with their first serious attack, a half-cleared corner being driven past a tardy United defence by Anthony Tarr.
In the 69th minute, Deaville saved a certain goal by whipping Miranda's legs from under him.
He was shown the red card and Hanlon converted the penalty by his outfield stand-in David Harper.
Thoughts the Blues might have had of an easy victory were thwarted by a series of fine saves by Harper. Indeed, with 10 men, the visitors had their best period of the match leading to their equaliser. Goalkeeper Danny Morton fumbled an innocuous ball and Tarr had a simple tap-in.
Efforts in the closing minutes by Scott Weir and Chris Melia were competently dealt with by Leek hero Harper and the 90 minutes ended with the teams all square - and anticipating another half-hour.
United: Morton; Jarrett, Aston, Marsh, Stanton; Topping, Eckersley (Melia 62), Duckworth, Baker; Miranda (Weir 69), Hopley (Tasker 80).
Attendance: 92
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