A good response to last week's cry for recruits found Logica able to try their hand at the squad system as an unprecedented 15 players turned out for yesterday's vital game against table-topping CMR Reserves. The cliched anology to the buses seems most appropriate, none for ages and then they all come at once, and this was reinforced by the vision of something big, red and slow which carries passengers and which has to make frequent stops.

This poor attempt at humour is in fact somewhat inappropriate as Logica FC put on a fine display against CMR, especially in the first half. Once Fleming had consulted his manual to find out how this thing with substitutes worked, it quickly became clear that only three were allowed and thus there was no need for the rare novelty of a 15th player. Abbott was the obvious choice to be axed from the final 14 based on the collection of bobbles that he acquired in the previous week's friendly. That will also teach him to write snotty e-mails.

Logica began uncertainly as unfamiliar players got to grips with each other. CMR took full advantage of some defensive uncertainty to score inside 10 mintes, and should have added a second shortly after, although regular keeper Fleming did well to put off the CMR striker in a one-on-one situation. Gradually Logica found their feet and some good moves resulted. Steve Mumford and Dav Gautam combined well on a couple of occassions to create chances for Spence and Hoyland up front. This pressure finally resulted in an equaliser when Spence broke clear to finish clinically. Seconds before half-time Logica took the lead when Spence again punished a poor-clearance with a well-placed finish. Just as Logica were contemplating going into the break with a lead, CMR's exhibitionist striker unleahed a forty-yarder which left the startled Fleming flapping at air and cruelly made the half-time score 2-2.

Fleming got to grips with the squad system by making a number of half-time changes, but Logica again seemed to take a while to get going again. Some concerted CMR pressure finally yielded a third goal from a close-range header. Shortly afterwards a penalty was awarded and converted, and CMR finally had some breathing space with a 4-2 advantage. Logica battled well but never really created the threat of the first half, and Hoyland in particular was not able to exploit a clear pace advantage as service to the front two became more sporadic. CMR even had the luxury of being able to miss a late penalty, although there was some question as to whether the offence was in the box in the first place.

So disappointment in the end for Logica, but they can be pleased with a performance that had CMR in trouble in the first half. If we can keep getting as many players as this out, things will surely start to improve quickly.