Festive cheer was in short supply in this match, particularly from the referee. He ordered the game to start 15 minutes before the scheduled 2pm kick-off and later sent off two players from each side.

The match started with a bang, Broughton's Jamie Bowditch trapping the ball in the nether regions and requiring treatment. From the drop-ball restart Durley swarmed forward, and Chris Skilton finished clinically; the game was less than two minutes old.

Broughton fought hard to get back into it; Mike Barker flashed a header just wide and Scott Vidler came close with a free-kick. But as play flowed from end to end Broughton keeper Gary Collis produced fine saves to deny Alex White and Neville Farrell.

Broughton equalised with the last kick of the first half, a penalty awarded for a pushing offence that only the referee had seen. Vidler tucked it away to set the second half up nicely.

After the break Durley attacked with renewed vigour, and had the ball in the net three times in eight minutes. First, the unmarked Farrell headed home a disputed Jake Wigley free-kick. Then, Wigley netted himself but the 'goal' was ruled out on a technicality. But another free-kick found White in space, and he made it 3-1 with aplomb.

The match then went from the merely bizarre to the totally ridiculous, with the red card being shown four times in twenty minutes.

First to go was Durley's Rob Tudgay, for two bookable offences, to be followed by Broughton player-manager Paul Blackmore, also for two bookings. It was his first sending off in twenty years of football!

Skilton was next to be sent packing for his own second booking - which prompted retaliation from Broughton sub Stuart Griffiths. He too was despatched, and in the latter stages it was nine against nine.

Somewhere in amongst the mayhem, White played a slick one-two with Michael Tickner and made the game safe with Durley's fourth.

There was plenty of end-to-end football in the closing stages, which wasn't surprising with only 18 players now on the field, but no more goals.

For full HFL2004 roundup, plus fixtures, results and tables from other leagues see Thursday's (Dec 22) Hampshire Chronicle.