Logica gave a passable impression of Arsenal (although not the spitting image) as they ground out a very workmanlike 1-0 victory against Ironprint. Without really ever firing on all cylinders, they extended their unbeaten start to the season to three games thanks to a first half header from the impressive Tim Wood. Clearly these midweek Champions League matches leave little juice in the engine for Sundays' bread-and-butter domestic encounters.

Fleming was clearly unsatisfied with Hoyland's six-goals the previous week, and demoted him to a more defensive wing-back role to make room for new signing Paul Banoub. Banoub came courtesy of the same agent who years ago had recommended Martin 'Johninho' Johnson as an outstanding striking talent. Despite this worrying precedent, Banoub was given his chance and adapted quickly to the pace of the game at this level.

Logica started fitfully. Their defence once again looked capable of dealing with whatever the visitors could throw at them, but offensively moves were frequently breaking down due to misplaced passes. The result was a fairly unexciting game with few chances. The biggest drama was inspired by a defensive mix-up in the home rearguard. The Ironprint left-winger went on a dangerous run, but his low cross found no colleagues in the box. Spence in the Logica goal and Phil Hatton converged on the ball, and although Spence called, Hatton was already committed to a clearance. Unfortunately the two collided, collapsed, and the ball ran loose to an Ironprint forward who could have walked the ball into the net. Instead his early shot cannoned back off the inside of the post, and although Spence required extensive treatment to a pain in the neck, Logica had had a lucky escape.

With the Football Gods riding shotgun, Logica drove forward and notched the goal that would prove sufficient for all three points. A good move found Abbott turning his man in the box, but his cross hit the outstretched arm of a flailing defender. Mass appeals for a penalty were waved away, but justice was done from the resulting corner, as Tim Wood headed home Nigel Hoyland's accurate dead-ball kick (1-0).

The second half brought much of the same, but the central midfield pairing of Wood and Gautam provided a continual light in the general dreariness. They were at the heart of all Logica's best moves, and frequently their sharp inter-passing saw Logica clear of danger. Wood's ability to hold the ball under pressure and wait for the right pass, helped the home side to keep possession as well as relieving pressure on the defence.

Logica had three good chances to kill the game but failed to take any of them. A burst of electric pace from Hoyland on the right took him through on goal, but his well-placed shot cannoned back off the right-hand post. Abbott manoeuvred himself into a good shooting position before blazing over the bar. Shortly afterwards Gautam worked himself to the bye-line, but his accurate cross was headed inches over the bar by Hoyland (who by this time had reverted to his favoured role of striker). In between times, Captain Fleming, revelling in a rare outfield appearance, cleverly fooled the goalkeeper with a shot that looked for all the world like it was a cross, and which clipped the angle of bar and post.

There were few threats at the other end. A few long range efforts caused Spence the odd Taibiesque moment of panic, but his safety-first, body-behind-the-ball approach yielded at worst a corner on these occasions. As such, the final whistle brought a fairly anti-climatic reaction from the Logica players. Anyone would think they are getting bored with this winning games malarkey!