A scoreline that equalled Logica's worst result* in modern times will have done little to boost morale in the Logica dressing room, especially when taken in conjunction with recent similar mares that have seen 8-0 and 10-1 defeats. The outlook may seem grim for , but in truth this match against the outstanding and high-flying West Ten was not one that anyone in the club seriously expected to win.

Indeed, last Tuesday the game did not even look like it would take place. The 's team-sheet had just four names on it, and there was talk of calling off the game with the inevitable loss of points and financial penalties that such action would incur. But the old and the new came to the rescue, as a number of eager young players responded to an 'ad in the paper', whilst the Lag network was once again activated. It was who emerged once more from the Lag phone-box donning yellow and green cape and Y-fronts, and in the end a squad of fourteen was miraculously assembled.

The more hardened cynics may take the view that, given the result, Logica would have been better off not playing the match, and instead taking the Match Award defeat that at least would not have further decimated an already embarrassing negative goal difference. Apart from the fact that this is not the way this club should go about its football, it would also have denied the chance to blood four newcomers in , , and .

Logica started with and forming a left-side partnership and both showed promise in what was an exceedingly difficult match to make a debut. At left-back regularly proved himself strong in the tackle, and also keen to get the ball down and play. Likewise showed a keen eye for the simple pass, and rarely gave the ball away. replaced at right-back for the second half and made some timely interceptions, whilst 's late introduction did not give him too much opportunity to get involved. All four must have been suffering from a lack of match fitness, but that has never hindered the more established squad members.

After fifteen minutes of Logica holding their own whilst admittedly posing no threat, West Ten sliced through a ragged attempt at an offside trap for their striker to round in goal and tap home [0-1]. And after the stand-in keeper had tipped a howitzer onto the bar and saved a point-blank free header on the goal-line, the flood-gates opened. Some lethal finishing saw the home side rattle in five goals in quick time as Logica in general and in particular stood mesmerised and helpless [0-6]

With an hour still to go, a seriously heavy beating seemed inevitable, but at least those in yellow stuck to their guns and there were no further goals before the break. They even created a chance of their own. released with a precise pass, and the winger's cross found debutante screwing a difficult first-time volley wide from 20 yards.

Buoyed by this chance, Logica showed a level of improvement in the second half that saw them concede just five goals. It was harsh on to concede a stonewall penalty for Ten's tenth, since he had put in a dynamic and never-say-die individual performance that saw him chasing and battling for the full ninety minutes in the middle of the park. was also a bit unlucky as he got a good hand to the spot-kick after a full-length dive only to see the ball creep just inside the post [0-10].

A late rally saw a smattering of Logica attacks, and went closest with a spectacular overhead kick that bounced wide. But West Ten had the last word when their brilliant number nine reacted fastest to poke the ball past to score his sixth, and the home side's eleventh, goal of the morning [0-11]. As cheerfully observed later in the Falcon, that individual haul was as many as Logica had managed all season.

On reflection, it is perhaps wisest to simply put this one down to experience. West Ten are clearly an excellent side, and their finishing (as in the 10-1 defeat a few weeks ago) was both brilliant and clinical. Logica now have three weeks before their next fixture, and this should give the time to re-group and re-plan. Hopefully it will also enable some of the many injuries to heal.

The club now has two games left before Christmas against Supercala (30th November) and Rapid Decline (14th December). The results of these sides suggest that these are two teams that Logica should really be looking to beat, especially with a few of our missing stars back in the squad. And with a victory under our belts, 2004 will suddenly look a whole lot rosier prospect.

*Note: A thorough-ish trawl of the Archives shows that this defeat equals the 11-0 defeat to Varsovia back in 1994 as our worst since records began.