The Argus Fantasy Football League is up and running and after the first week we have three joint leaders.

Team managers Stuart Bettis, Andrea Torkington and Richard Partridge all totalled an impressive 48 points.

It puts them in line for a prize of £100 for the manager who is top each month.

A total of £2,000 is up for grabs in prize money in our competition which will run throughout the season.

The first prize is £1,000, second prize £250 and third prize £50. The competition finishes next May.

Bettis named his side 'Top Of The League U R 'Aving A Laugh'.

Well, it is already getting serious for the Shoreham-based boss.

The stars of his team have been the strikers.

Andy Johnson, who fired more than 20 goals in the Premiership last season and earned an England call-up, hasstarted the new term on fire with relegated Crystal Palace.

He scored a last-minute goal as The Eagles defeated promoted Hull, managed by ex-Albion manager Peter Taylor, 2-0.

And he netted again in the 3-2 defeat at Reading, managed by another former Seagulls boss, Steve Coppell.

But Johnson was substituted early at the Madejski Stadium and is a fitness doubt for the next game.

So Bettis will be keeping his fingers crossed his ace marksman will recover.

Carl Cort is the second Bettis front- runner and collect a cool eight points.

The Wolves hitman put Wolves ahead in the 1-1 draw at high-flying Luton.

And he scored again when Glenn Hoddle's side were stunned by a last-minute winner at home to Millwall.

Albion's own ace, Leon Knight, did his bit, bagging six points.

The former Chelsea mini-marvel scored one in the 3-3 draw at Leeds. He then forced Sean Gregan to put through his own goal to earn two points for an assist.

Bettis might gain a couple of extra points if Knight is successful in his cheeky appeal to claim the goal for himself.

Two clean sheets in Chelsea wins for 'hero' John Terry - in the Premiership against Sunderland and the Champions League against Anderlecht - ensured eight more points for Bettis.

Leigh Bromby might be at less-fashionable Sheffield United, but he has the same number of points as Terry after The Blades' 2-0 win over Ipswich and 1-0 success against Albion at The Withdean Stadium.

Paul Robinson, a 'star' status' selection, kept a clean sheet for Tottenham against Liverpool and two assists for on-loan Jason Koumas against Burnley and Leicester made up Bettis' total of 48.

But with Andrea's Angels, bossed by Torkington, and Partridge's Sussex By the Sea, neck and neck with his team it is too early to rest on any laurels.

He said: "I can't believe I am joint top. I only entered for a bit of fun. My plan was to have defenders like Terry who are in sides that do not concede goals and can score."

The early leaderboard is published in The Argus today.