Logica continued with their new year resolution as they made a point against in-form Broadway on the wind-swept deserts of Tooting Bec Common. Against a team who had beaten West Ten (twice) and Wanderers in the last six weeks, it was a committed display that showed great character from a Logica side that was both commanding at the back, and which also attacked with flair and verve. The best measure of the level of performance was that the players were disappointed at the end of the day to only come away with a single point.

could take a great deal of personal satisfaction from what he described as "a bonus point" at the post-match press conference. As well as a disciplined and authoritative 90 minute display at left-back, can be credited with some tactical and man-management master-strokes that made a substantial difference to the ultimately insipid 6-1 defeat at the hands of the same opponents just a fortnight ago.

Not least of these was the timely signing of Bulgarian international . After an extensive and thorough scouting operation that involved finding some shin-pads and a One-Day Special Registration Form, the bloke who claimed to have played professional football in Bulgaria, and who had just happened to be wandering across the Common looking for a kick-about, was thrust straight into the cauldron of Sportsmans League Sunday A.M. Division Three on the right-side of midfield. And an inspired signing it would prove to be.

In the week running up to this fixture, had maintained a dignified silence in response to a tirade of tabloid castigation over the dropping of two big name stars in the previous match. Now felt the time was right, and re-selected his absent stars for this difficult away fixture. And his astute psychological ploy reaped huge dividends, with providing the rock on which an impregnable Logica defence was built, whilst returned to cap a reinvigorated display with the sublimely chipped goal that made the point.

But whilst may have sat after the match contentedly supping from a glass of Mineral Water in the Players Lounge with his two re-allied stars, the picture had looked a lot less promising just three hours previously. Despite naming an impressive-looking 14-man squad on Thursday, five subsequent drop-outs had left Logica facing the prospect of another numerically challenged humiliation. But the is nothing if not resourceful. Playboy stopper was extracated from the night-club via text message at 6.52am. And despite a horrific facial injury won on the hockey field the day before, heroically agreed at 10:14 am to head up in time for the second half.

Buoyed by these selfless and brave acts on the part of their respectively ale-ing and ailing team-mates, Logica started positively and gained the initiative early doors, despite playing into a strong gale. and posed a pacey and aggressive threat down both flanks, and with the whole midfield showing a terrier-like bite in the tackle, the visitors were seeing an unusually large amount of possession.

It was the final pass that was letting Logica down, and whilst the pressure applied by Logica yielded a succession of corners and free-kicks, there were few actual shots on goal forthcoming. It was the rejuvenated who carved the best chance of the half for himself. Winning a difficult bouncing ball in the centre circle he bounded on past two challenges before unleashing a vicious left foot shot from the edge of the box which a startled Broadway keeper just managed to get a hand to, and palm over for another corner.

At the other end, the Logica back four were monumental. With the aid of both a hard-working midfield in front of them and behind them, , , and quickly gelled into a cohesive unit that hunted in packs and repelled Broadway attacks. If one man was beaten, there was another immediately in position to cover, making it so difficult for the home attackers to gain any kind of ascendancy. Logica's collective defensive determination was best exemplified by a piece of play. Broadway's pacey forward was sprung clear through the inside-right channel, but dogged and tracked him into the box before getting in an off-putting challenge that found the frustrated striker screwing a hurried shot wide.

And on the few occasions this rearguard was breached, there was to save the day. Having made a point-blank save low on the goal-line, the much-missed keeper proceeded to make two further vital saves as the interval approached. First he diverted an attacker with a clear run on goal too wide, standing up and refusing to commit to his dive too early, such that the chance was lost. And there was more clever and dexterous keeping as pulled off a finger-tip save as a Broadway striker tried to chip the ball over him after boring down on goal.

This enabled Logica to go in at the break on level terms, whereupon they were further boosted by the arrival of , and the simultaneous knowledge that they would have the best of a swirling wind in the second half. For the first twenty five minutes after the interval, Logica were completely dominant. They won virtually every header and tackle, with the outstanding all-conquering both on the ground and in the air.

After a succession of second half capitulations this season, Logica were a revelation in this second forty-five minutes. The midfield quartet contributed significantly to this improvement, as to a man they kept battling, chasing and tracking back to the final whistle, even . But it was not just a rearguard action, as they also drove forward at every opportunity. took the game to Broadway with pace and power, whilst supplied intelligent passes and hard-tackling in equal measure on the right flank. was continually prompting with guile in between all that tracking back, whilst was in the thick of the defence one minute and marauding beyond his forwards the next.

Logica badly needed a goal to show for their ascendancy, and after a couple of half-chances, they got what they were after when they least expected it. A pass was played back to the Broadway right-back and, whether by intent or otherwise, he let it roll behind him. As he turned a little too casually, was in like a flash and had the ball off his toe. Advancing into the penalty area, the chances still looked slim with no support and an acute angle. But had other ideas, and after looking up to locate the keeper, he executed the most sublime of left-foot chips over a helpless number one, and into the back of the net off the far post [1-0].

Now the visitors really had something to fight for. Rather than defend their slender lead, Logica sought a second goal which would surely have clinched three points. And , who had battled and fought and harassed Broadway's defenders throughout, so nearly got his just reward. Chasing another cornered defender back towards his own goal, perceptively anticipated the panicked clearance, only to see his interception roll inches the wrong side of the post. And the same player would surely have settled the result minutes later had the dazzling winter sun not foiled him as he rose at the back stick to get on the end of a perfectly delivered free kick. The keeper had been taken out by the flight of the ball, but the blinded striker's header glanced wide with the goal at his mercy. also went close when played through by , but this time the Broadway keeper did manage to block.

As the ninety minutes approached, Logica showed signs of tiring for the first time. Two good chances were spurned by Broadway as shots were blazed high, but the home side finally eked out an equaliser with just ten minutes left on the clock. They had continually put in extremely dangerous corners all morning, but Logica's superb aerial defence had dealt with them all. But now a dead-ball arrowed into the back stick was met by a Broadway head five yards out, and even 's brave efforts to block could not quite stop the ball from being bundled over the line [1-1].

To their credit, Logica did not allow this body blow to cause heads to drop. They battled on and repelled a late Broadway onslaught, just about keeping the situation under control. was seen heading bravely clear despite his near-broken jaw, and even was found back in his own penalty area blocking a shot after a half-cleared corner without the slightest thought for his personal safety. And twisted an ankle and was carried from the field, only to hobble back on to see out the last few minutes.

These last acts of valour summed up the heroic all-round team performance. The final whistle may have found a relieved Logica on the back foot, but the team had produced the performance of the season that many pundits felt had deserved three points rather than one. certainly thought so, but he will be happy enough if his charges can reproduce this level of effort and application in their next two crucial relegation six-pointers against Inter Wandsworth and Everyman Utd. If they can, there may just be a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel that has so far been the 2003/4 season.

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