As the curtain came down on this particular Broadway show, Logica had been well and truly up-staged by yet another tragic outcome. Whilst the home players had for the most part continued with the improved performances that have characterised 2004, they were ruthlessly and regularly exposed by a slick Broadway finish, as well as some comedy at the start of the second act when they completely lost the plot.

And Logica's director of football will be fearing a tirade of negative reviews from the critics this morning after taking the high-risk strategy of axing some of his big-name stars ahead of this latest performance. With a cast of thousands at his disposal, the opted to drop, amongst others, stalwart striker and defender and captain , two players who boast nearly 400 domestic appearances for the club and over 70 international caps between them. As Lags are oft apt to mutter, there is no substitute for experience.

Neither player even made it onto the bench. Ageing prima donna has received harsh criticism from certain quarters this season, as a haul of just two goals prompted accusations that the forward was finally over the hill. Limp excuses about playing in goal held no water, and with the striker's hoard of placatory Marlboro's long since exhausted, ruthlessly wielded the axe.

Meanwhile, back-four lynch-pin reported for duty on Thursday following a runny nose only to be told his services weren't required. It was not so long ago that the Warrington Warrior was being hailed by the as the answer to Logica's striking woes. Now, the man many suspect as being the brains behind Logica's defensive operations is in danger of being cast onto the scrap-heap just as he approaches Lag age. Although both player and manager were quick to refute allegations that the bust-up was in any way triggered by baseless rumours appearing in L'Equipe magazine that was considering the tempting offer of an elevation to Lagdom ahead of this summer's World Cup in Utrecht.

The first act in this Broadway show was quick and dramatic. A lofted pass down the inside-right channel exploited the visiting number nine's pace, and with playing catch-up and 's semi-advancement to meet the danger, a sharp low cross left another Broadway striker with an empty net to volley into [0-1].

Logica nearly responded immediately. A dangerous attack found Broadway struggling to clear, and was quick to pounce on the loose ball, but his cleverly executed half-volley from the edge of the box drifted inches wide of the far post. As the two teams traded attacks, it was Broadway who were delivering a lesson in finishing. Their second chance of the game came when an incisive counter-attack played the visiting number nine clear again, and he coolly tucked the ball under the advancing [0-2].

The 's big idea had been to play in a large hole just behind lone striker , and this was working well. The Walsall Wizard seemed glad to be free of any tracking-back shackles, and was popping up in all kinds of dangerous positions. He had been at the heart of Logica's most dangerous attacks, and now created a chance of his own. A drifting run latched on to a fine ball over the right-back's head, and cutting inside the last defender seemed odds on to score as he pulled the trigger from 15 yards. But much to the players own disgust, the shot was blazed too high.

Logica were keeping the pressure up, and was taking the fight to Broadway with some concerted midfield ball-winning in tandem with . The best of Logica's remaining first half chances fell to , when a half-cleared ball was played back into the danger area. The ball fell into the Sheffielder's path, but he didn't quite hit his shot on the turn cleanly, and the Broadway keeper was able to save.

Such profligacy was immediately punished. A sliced clearance by a Logica defender fell straight into the path of a Broadway forward, and once again the finish was clinical as poor in goal found himself horribly exposed for the third time [0-3]. The Logica keeper did get a chance to show what he was capable of with two excellent and brave blocks at Broadway feet as the interval approached, but the Logica players were still left reflecting that they had created as many if not more chances during the first period.

Unfortunately, as so often this season, the half-time exhortation for more of the same was followed by weak capitulation. Poor defending from a long throw enabled a Broadway player to easily fire home from close range [0-4]. Blistering pace soon saw Broadway's number nine streak clear and round for a simple finish [0-5], before more insipid defending allowed a sloppy sixth [0-6]. It could have been worse but for a header off the line, a brilliant reaction goal-line clearance from second half substitute , and two more excellent saves from .

With a quarter of the game still to go, things did not look good. But a superb strike triggered a late rally that provided some consolation as well as stopping further Broadway goals. It was breaking in the inside left channel who created the danger, but when he slipped a neat pass outside to there was still plenty to do. However, the revitalised hole merchant immediately selected the finish of choice, curling a perfect arcing shot from twenty-five yards round and over a helpless goalkeeper and straight into the top corner [1-6].

The goal of the game by some distance, but sadly it was still a question of too little, too late for Logica. And they were left to reflect that whilst their performance did not merit such a heavy defeat, another lesson in finishing coupled with yet another second half doze had yielded another embarrassing deficit.