A power-cut left stunned football fans watching blank
screens just minutes before kick off in the crucial World Cup group
game between England and Slovenia.

While the rest of the country enjoyed England's 1-0 victory,
hundreds of fans in Sandling, Maidstone, missed the entire match
when EDF cut the supply to 499 properties at 2.57pm on Wednesday,
three minutes before the match began.

EDF say the power was cut because "essential equipment" had been
stolen from a substation.

Customers in Forstal Road, Egerton Road and Edna Road were
affected, including The Running Horse pub, The Malta Inn and The
Village Hotel.

Village Hotel manager Veronica Kingham described how faces fell
as 250 fans realised the situation.

Meanwhile, in Gillingham, fans shared in the joy and
agony of the clincher at the 44Two club. See our footage
below

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"The English national anthem had just finished and the other
anthem was starting - there was just a bang, and everyone had that
look of 'you're joking, is someone having a laugh?"

The manager didn't see the funny side when she rang up EDF only
to hear the match being played in the background.

"The operator said I'm going to put you on hold - I said 'you're
not watching any match while we're sitting here without
power'."

Click here to read more about the World Cup in
Kent

But the bar
was left empty in minutes as fans filed out to find another
venue.

"It was a death blow," added the manager.

She said power was restored shortly after the match finished
"almost like someone flicked a switch at the start and again when
it was over".

EDF said power was restored to all customers by 5.14pm. The
firm apologised for the incident and have reported the theft
to police.

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