After the jubilation of the previous week’s first win of the season, it was back down to earth with a gentle bump, as Logica fell by the odd goal in five to a good footballing outfit in Rapid Decline. However, players and fans can take heart from another improved showing, especially compared to the 7-1 drubbing received at the hands of the same opponents in our last game of 2004. The Logica team made itself hard to beat, and carved out some good chances themselves, both characteristics that were noticeably lacking during the dark days of October and November.

Perhaps the best indicator that the club’s fortunes are finally on the upturn is the squad size. After matches this season with just nine and ten men, the is once again happy to be suffering selection headaches, even if that meant selflessly leaving himself out before naming a 14-man squad to face Rapid.

And it is not just a question of quantity. The quality is also starting to show through in the form of a much-needed influx of young talent. is already a veteran of five games, and continues to show a calm head and an adept footballing brain in a variety of positions. Having started his Logica career during the worst sequence of results in the club’s history, there seems nowhere else for him to go other than upwards.

has experienced a similar baptism of fire, perhaps made even worse by a stint with the gloves. But like , his enthusiasm appears to remain undimmed despite the long distance both have to travel to reach South West London on a Sunday morning.

Meanwhile continued to impress in his second match. Claiming to be a full-back by trade, his pace and skill never-the-less caused Rapid regular difficulties as he again fulfilled the difficult left-sided midfield role with great promise. As on his debut in the win over Spectraprint, opponents were soon trying to stop him by any means possible, a terribly late and scything tackle interrupting his progress on another threatening dribble. In a Logica attack noticeably lacking in pace this season, has provided an outstanding threat already, and he combines this with some dogged defensive tracking and determined tackling.

And there was more promising talent on show in this fixture, with the debuts of both and . The latter was the answer to ’s prayers: a goalkeeper by trade, who even turned up with his own number one jersey and gloves. And didn’t disappoint, as he showed himself to be more than able between the sticks. A full-length tip around the post was the pick of his saves, but at the same time he was not afraid to get on with the less spectacular jobs demanded of his position, such as punching a dangerous corner clear from amidst a scrum of players, as well as an effective save with his feet in the second half. had less chance to impress, coming off the bench with just twenty minutes left to play on the right side of midfield. But he still did enough to indicate that he has all the ingredients of a good footballer.

With all these new faces, it is perhaps not surprising that Logica are still taking time to gel as a cohesive unit. Whilst a familiar back four battled well against a threatening Rapid attack throughout, the visitors initially struggled to pose a threat of their own. But when they get their act together, it was with some effect. was the cause, skipping niftily past two challenges before being horrendously felled by a third. whipped in a trade-mark dead-ball, lethally arrowed low to the near post. The keeper was flustered, and the ball flicked off his torso up against the upright. Meat and drink for a caged tiger like , whose predatory instinct saw him in the right place to slot home the rebound [1-0].

Decline responded with more of the same. They were proving to be a good footballing side, dominating possession with their sharp pass-and-move style and with an adept and clever centre forward with the stature of Jan Molby. Ironically, they were a far more impressive side than when they had beaten us 7-1 in December, but their equaliser when it came was a little unfortunate. was unlucky to be penalised for a challenge which saw him win the ball, but Rapid had a free kick just outside the box. Despite men on the line, the kick was fired through the wall and straight into the net [1-1].

Minutes later Logica were a little more culpable. Some tardy defending allowed a low cross in from the left, and had to pull off a sharp save to block the near post flick. Unfortunately his defensive colleagues were not quite so alert, and it was a Rapid man who was first to the loose ball, squaring it for a simple tap in [1-2].

Logica responded with some of their best football of the match, and were desperately unlucky not to equalise. held the ball up skilfully in the centre-circle before showing good vision to release down the left wing with a lofted pass. After beating one man, the Walsall Wizard squared an inviting ball along the edge of the box. The aging predictably arrived a fraction too late, but had timed his run perfectly and slid a low shot which crashed back off the far post.

The lively was adding a similar pacey threat to on the other flank, and a bold run from in his own half set up another great chance. After beating his man, Logica had three-on-three. squared to who dallied before back-heeling elaborately. It was galloping up in support, but his left-foot shot was just the wrong side of the post.

The second half saw Logica struggling to maintain enough good possession, and some more composure was required on the ball. But after Rapid had dominated the play for twenty minutes, it was the visitors who finally equalised with a well-worked goal that finally unlocked the home offside trap. received the ball out right just in his own half and slipped a firm pass inside towards . The striker kept his line to stay onside and let ball run through. had timed his burst from midfield to perfection, and latched eagerly onto the pass to send a superb left-footed first-time strike past the keeper from 20 yards just inside the far post [2-2].

Unfortunately, Logica didn’t have much time to consolidate their position of parity. Within minutes, Rapid Decline responded with a sublime goal worthy of winning any match. A deftly weighted chip was taken beautifully in his stride by their striker on a diagonal run, and in the same movement he had fired an unstoppable shot low into the corner from 15 yards [2-3].

Logica battled gamely to try and pinch another equaliser, but even the introduction six fresh legs failed to change the score. Another neat move saw slip a short pass inside to who had dropped deep for possession. He quickly fed the run of his strike-partner , but the Teessider’s angled shot went across goal and wide. himself had the last chance. made enough of a nuisance of himself challenging for a bouncing ball to see it run into the box, but failed get his foot sufficiently around the ball and his shot rolled tamely wide.

The final whistle signalled another defeat for Logica, but the atmosphere in the dressing room after the game was markedly different from before Christmas. There was no air of resignation, and rather the players were looking forward to the following Sunday’s game against Braganca. The spirit of the club is still very much alive, and while that is the case there is still hope that they can accumulate the four or so further victories needed to avoid the drop.