Four goals, a floodlight failure and a feast of entertainment illuminated Portman Road.
Soaraway success - Richard Naylor wheels away after opening the scoring in last night's Championship clash at Portman Road. (44985-12)
And, by the time the game eventually finished shortly before 10.20pm, Ipswich Town could consider themselves well-satisfied with a point against dangerous Southampton.
The hosts rode their luck in the second half and, after losing their previous two games without scoring, must have been content with a battling share of the spoils.
Town had made two changes to the side which crumbled 2-0 at Sheffield United on Saturday, replacing Sito Castro (suspended) and Jim Magilton with Fabian Wilnis and Owen Garvan.
But the players barely had time to break sweat before proceedings were brought to an abrupt halt by a floodlight failure.
Ground staff battled to solve the problem and no play was possible for 40 minutes.
They managed to get three of the floodlights back on but referee Phil Joslin - with safety in mind - wanted some input from the fourth, which he eventually got.
Play finally resumed at 8.30pm and it was Town who emerged from the darkness to break the deadlock after 36 minutes.
Darren Currie flighted a perfect, inswinging corner and Richard Naylor rose above his marker to bury a close-range header past keeper Antti Niemi.
Southampton deservedly drew level just after the break with a goal very similar to the opener. This time it was veteran Dennis Wise who took the corner, expertly headed home by Darryl Powell.
In a thrilling game which always ebbed and flowed, Town nosed in front again on the hour-mark with a first-ever goal for teenager Garvan.
A corner was partially headed out to him and the Irishman chested the ball down, before driving a left-footed volley beyond the seemingly unsighted Niemi.
That was the cue for the visitors to dominate the latter stages and it was no surprise when they drew level.
Just three minutes after Nigel Quashie crashed a low shot against the far post, Harry Redknapp's side got the leveller they deserved when Higginbotham's raking ball in from the left was volleyed across goal by Matt Oakley.
There, waiting at the far post, was Wise to nod home from close range.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, September 14, 2005
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