This would have been beyond even Roy of the Rovers.

The comic-strip opening is that Logica are playing a vital relegation clash against bottom placed Gardeners Arms, and desperately need the two points. For eighty minutes Logica are absolutely crap, and make the home side look like Juventus by comparison. Three mistakes have given Gardeners Arms three goals, and a 3-0 lead at this stage seems more than adequate. With time running out, wily old Supremo Clarke, who has seen it all before, has one last throw of the dice. Controversially, he chooses to withdraw the best Logica player on the day, Duff, in order to achieve a change of formation. The disbelieving throngs in the press-box begin to derive variations on a "Clarke Out" headline, even as substitute Thang Sam enters the fray. However, Clarke's tactical insight is beyond the comprehension of mere mortals (certainly beyond that of lowly journo's), and in the last ten minutes Logica duly score four goals to run out 4-3 winners and leave the Gardeners Arms feeling justifiably as sick as parrots.

An extension to the game of two halves cliché is required to deal with the imbalance of dominance between the two sides. Well aware of the importance of victory, Logica started off poorly. Gardeners were able to display a controlled passing game which belied their lowly status, and were able to pressure Logica in possession well enough to throw the visitors off their game. Indeed mistakes under pressure were the cause of both Gardeners first-half goals as first Hatton and then Clarke lost possession in dangerous areas. In response, Logica put together a few good moves, most notably when Spence had a cross touched onto the bar and when an Abbott curler was only denied by the keeper's finger-tips. Logica lacked shape and organisation with players continually found out of position. Through all this Duff produced his best game in a Logica shirt, regularly winning the ball from the opposition and feeding Woolhouse wherever possible. It was this simple combination that came closest to producing a Logica goal, as Duff won the ball, beat one man and squared to Woolhouse whose blistering drive was just too close to a stunned keeper, who somehow caught the ball above his head.

Logica contrived to play worse in the second half and for the first thirty minutes of this period did not produce a single threat to the Arms goal. In this time, the Gardeners dug out a third goal which at the time looked to be conclusive. Stand-in keeper Millar had been doing a fine job as ever between the sticks and once more advanced competently to collect a cross. A shout from somewhere urged him to feed Toman in space but his throw-out found the Geordie surrounded and the Gardeners striker easily intercepted and produced a deft chip of such perfection that gave the stranded Millar no chance and reminded one of Abbott in his younger days. The lack of offensive punch finally forced Captain Clarke into his desperate reshuffle. Logica continued to struggle for a while but did finally force a corner with about ten minutes to go. Woolhouse whipped in an inch-perfect exocet to the far post where Spence was waiting unmarked, and duly headed home what appeared to be an (undeserved) consolation goal.

Johninho, now playing officially in midfield, started to add some attacking support. Collecting a ball on half-way, he turned and advanced before feeding Spence. The Scotsman turned his marker in an instant, flicking the ball through the defender's legs, before chipping a through-ball into space on the left. The ball was intended for Abbott who had made a run on the blind-side, but the keeper also dashed off his line hoping to get there first. Abbott showed uncharacteristic determination and got his foot to the ball a split second before the keeper clattered into him, and his controlled flick lifted the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Now Logica scented an unlikely opportunity and pushed forward with a previously unaccustomed confidence. In virtually their next attack, Thang was played clear on the left and his accurate low cross was dispatched with minimum fuss by Spence, whose first time shot beat a flailing keeper. Incredibly Logica were on level terms, and a point beckoned.

Suddenly everyone was fired up and there was much urging not to do anything stupid and let this priceless point slip. Gardeners Arms could not quite believe what had happened to them and seemed stunned. Another attempt to score straight from the kick- off failed to trouble Millar, and Logica were building another attack. Advancing right into the opposition penalty area, a shot was blocked, but Logica had a corner. Surely it couldn't happen? Woolhouse drilled in another dangerous corner, and Jeff "Roy Race" Hatton ran from the edge of the box and hurled himself at the ball. He got perfect contact, and his bullet header fairly fizzed into the back of the net from ten yards. 4-3 to Logica!

Within seconds the referee blew the final whistle. Both sets of players stood in absolute disbelief. Logica had pulled of one of the most incredible comebacks in Association Football history, but more importantly had secured two vital points from this crucial relegation battle.