Despite remaining unbeaten on the field of play, Logica have lost out in the labyrinthal corridors of power down at the Sportsmans League HQ.

Our opening league match of the season was due to take place on 12th September against AFC Zeebras. In time honoured fashion, Logica were unable to raise a team as many of the star players were still lying on the beaches of Barbados, Bondi and Bournemouth. As the depleted nature of the situation became clear to Supremo Fleming (just six positive responses), he immediately notified the appropriate authorities that we would be unable to play the game. This was a good 48 hours prior to the scheduled kick-off.

There is some confusion as to what response Fleming received from the Sportsmans League mandarins, but one informed view at the time predicted that the game would be replayed later in the season. It has now been confirmed that this is not the case, and AFC Zeebras have officially been awarded a 'walk-over' and the three points that accompanies it. No score-line is applied, thus our Goals For and Against columns remain unaffected. It is just that there is now a big fat "1" in out games lost column.

Fleming was remaining tight-lipped as ever yesterday regarding this controversial decision, and he must just hope that the three points lost do not mean the difference between first and second place at the end of the season. An unofficial source was however more forthcoming. "We place the blame firmly in the League's court" said our metaphor-mixing insider anonymously. "If they had been unambiguous regarding the likely repercussions of calling off the game, we would have done whatever it took to fulfil the fixture, even if that meant fielding a side of YTS lads, tea-ladies and Abbott."

It is thought unlikely that Logica FC will have any recourse to legal action or an appeal. The precedent set by Middlesbrough's non-appearance at Ewood Park in December 1997, and the subsequent three-point deduction, is likely to prove persuasively discouraging.