It was all looking so promising a few days ago as my balance soared to an upwardly mobile £9.03. It appeared I was set to break even on my £10 deposit and possibly advance into a position where I could reclaim the £2.50 from my previous losses and make a hasty withdrawal.

Alas, the unhappy quirks of predominantly in-play betting have seen my total decimated as I cling on to the hope of reaching the £12.50 mark.

The breaking news surrounding Finnish football and its match-fixing scandal has added some colour to proceedings. I am beginning to wonder whether KooTeePee v KPV Kokkola (which saw a modest winning return of 14p as a bet on the number of goals scored in the match came through) had been affected.

The Scandinavian leagues, largely active throughout the summer months to avoid harsh winters, must be a mini goldmine for punters au fait with all things 'Norwegian 2. Division - Avdeling 3'.

For the rest of us playing catch-up, let's hope our burgeoning savvy can produce more than just a bus fare to the local Iceland store.

Current Balance-£1.82

Follow me on Twitter @williwycombe as I try to beat the bookie and reach my goal!