Note to all future match report contributors - "Don't try and write a match report three weeks after a game, especially if the amount of alcohol you consumed over the Christmas period has killed many millions of brain cells and with them any recollection you may have had of the match itself".

Before Christmas came the little matter of a top of the table clash between Brighton and Village Manchester; Village may be new to the GFSN League but they are by no means a novice team, having graced the international stage of IGLFA World Championships on a number of occasions in the past and with a 1st team playing regular football in a Manchester "straight" league. This as they say was a 6 pointer!

Gary the ref later confirmed that if the free kick had sailed straight in he would have disallowed the goal, but with such a short time to make a decision I think 9 times out of ten we'd all stick out a hand. It's just a natural reaction. So 1-0 down and, frankly, struggling, we managed to pull ourselves together a little more and regained some composure; towards the end of the half Matt went on a run through the Manc defence and was unceremoniously dumped on the floor. Penalty! Mr Smith stepped up with his usual air of confidence and despatched said spot kick with some aplomb - 1-1. Game on!

Second half we were much more of a footballing side - Dave and John were combining well on forward runs (Dave playing very well for only his second or third outing in a Brighton shirt, if I may say so) and we started to control the game. Mid way through the half a ball broke to me around the halfway line. My first time pass split the Manchester defence and John took the ball on sweetly and smacked a great shot home - absolutely top drawer strike Sir!

For the rest of the half we managed to contain the Manchester revival and were looking good for the three points until disaster struck with no more than a couple of minutes to go. A cross from the Manchester right was heading comfortably towards Alan in the penalty area when he lost his footing and fell face first into the ball. Personally, I thought if it struck him anywhere it was high on the chest, but Gary blew his whistle, said "Handball", and awarded another penalty! Now I think Gary is a great referee but I have to say it was one of the poorer decisions I have seen him give - because I don't believe he could say that even if he felt it had touched Al's arm that Alan either controlled the ball deliberately or had his arm in any place other than where it would be if he was falling accidentally. Harsh. Very Harsh.