As you will doubtless be tired of hearing by now, February is make or break time for Logica as far as any possible Houdini act goes. A month containing a number of must-win fixtures got off to an unexpectedly good start as the team took a point off in-form Broadway the previous week. Now against relegation rivals Inter Wandsworth they pulled another fine performance out of the bag, a performance that had everything: determination, character, application and plenty of good football into the bargain. Everything, in fact, except good finishing.

For a game of such import, the club prepared in its usual professional manner. was a little unlucky when both last week's star performers pulled out at the last minute, crying off on Thursday whilst keeper failed a late fitness test on Sunday morning after failing to shake off illness. For once the Football Gods were caught napping as occasional keeper impressively decided to drive down from Reading to watch the big match. Miraculously he'd brought his boots along too.

Typically had possession of the yellow kit. Meanwhile , who the Law of Sod decreed should have the other kit, was having his own personal travel nightmare, as was . So the preparation for this vital match consisted of a dozen or so slightly tubby blokes milling around the dressing room in boxer shorts and shin-pads, looking not unlike a bunch of rejects from a Fully Monty audition. Luckily, 's eleventh hour chauffeur screeched into the car park at 10:25am, and the team were just about fully dressed as the game kicked off.

Such a tried-and-tested warm-up routine predictably resulted in a slightly less than cohesive start from the home side. But, as Inter strove to exploit their opponents disorganisation, the Logica back four carried on where they left off last week ( a more than adequate replacement for ) and stood firm to repel some early Inter pressure without being called into action.

As the quarter-hour mark passed, Logica began to play themselves back into the game. The midfield was beginning to bite with , and pressing well, enabling to find a bit of space and add a creative edge. And it was the maverick midfielder's well-spotted pass that played clear for Logica's first real chance of the match. The Lag striker cut inside the last defender and rolled an inviting pass right into the path of a great run from fellow forward . Unfortunately, the ball got stuck under the Teessider's feet, and the shot from the penalty spot rolled tamely into a grateful keeper's arms.

was finding some good positions and sent in three snapshots early doors, the last a difficult volley from twenty yards fizzing wide. Shortly afterwards Wandsworth nearly accepted their only real chance of the half, after some rare confusion in the Logica back four left an Inter striker with space to fire a close-range volley. A goal seemed inevitable but from nowhere stand-in keeper leapt to his right and stuck out a hand to deflect the ball over the bar. A brilliant reflex save!

Whilst both sides were claiming a roughly equal share of possession, it was Logica who were posing the real goal threat, with at the hub of most of the chances created. After some elaborate noncery in the centre circle, he slipped a superb pass that dissected the Inter backline and left with just the keeper to beat. After steadying himself, the midfielder plumped for power but unfortunately his stinging shot was too close to the exposed Wandsworth glove-man.

was finding some inviting space for himself, and now drifted left to receive a superb pin-point diagonal ball from the visionary . Taking the ball down in a thrice, the best that can be said of what followed is that at least the striker's confidence has obviously returned, as he tried a speculatively optimistic lob from 25 yards that flew high over the bar.

Logica's goal threat and profligacy continued apace as returned to the role of assister. A sharp turn on the bye-line required a defender to dive and head behind his own goal in order to cut out the dangerous low cross, before the striker's lobbed pass was just too far in front of a great run from deep by . Next a good build-up found again receiving the ball out on the left, and this time the striker looked up to see another perceptive blind-side run from . picked out the necessary diagonal pass and 's first touch took him away from the last defender. Unfortunately the second touch knocked the ball too close to the Inter keeper, and the chance was gone.

It was beginning to seem like Logica would never score, but as half time neared, the breakthrough finally came. It was almost a replica of the first move of the half as poked a sharp pass to play clear in the inside-right channel. Bursting into the box as fast as his ageing hamstrings would allow, fired an accurate low shot past a diving keeper and in off the far post [1-0].

For the second week running an interval lead offered something tangible to inspire the Logica players for the second half. Unlike last week, however, Logica's resolve did not last long as the opposition levelled matters within minutes. Like last week, though, the goal was again conceded from a corner. A near post flick-on found an Inter player unmarked at the back stick, and his clever reverse header across goal was gleefully converted from point-blank range [1-1].

For a while Logica's new found resilience deserted them as Wandsworth strove to grab the initiative with both hands. The home side's defensive cause was not helped when experienced stopper limped from the field with an injury. His knackers had already bravely blocked a fierce shot late in the first half, and now his little toe fell victim to an errant Wandsworth foot. Fortunately by now had negotiated the problems posed by the Sunday rail service, and slotted in at left-back with moving into the centre. Perhaps this was a cursed position, for would end the game with a badly-swollen purple foot, far larger and more sympathy-inspiring than anything could expose after the final whistle.

Logica were hanging on a bit, and had to thank for another brilliant save that kept them on level terms. A lobbed ball cleared full-back and a Wandsworth forward could see the whites of the Logica keeper's eyes. Again the volley was ferociously hit, but again was equal to the task as he stretched to tip the ball over in spectacular style.

Perhaps inspired by this save, Logica regained their confidence, and the best move of the game should really have seen Logica in front. It was some magic that started it, as the Walsall Wizard squirmed clear of a tight scrum on the right and found in space on half way. With the visiting defence stretched, the Leeds man wasted no time in springing to his left, and as the striker cut inside his marker, he spotted another fine blind-side run from . 's pin-point pass left his strike partner with a great chance to finish from eight yards, but the firmly hit shot flew the wrong side of the post, and once again Inter were let off the hook.

Logica finished the game strongly. A howitzer of a free-kick felled a poor unfortunate in the wall, and an astute ball lashed back into the box by might well have been converted had not slipped at the vital moment. came close when a kneed effort was blocked, and the rampaging did superbly to be first to an cross, but the angle was against him.

As the final whistle approached, Logica raised their tired limbs for one last cavalry charge as they desperately tried to convert one point into three. The combination was familiar. twisted away from his marker before again dissecting the Wandsworth back line with a precise slide-rule pass into the path of , who had once again made a brilliant run. The first touch was assured and pushed his shot past the advancing keeper and the net rippled. Sadly for the briefly excited home fans, the shot had only found the side-netting, and Logica had just missed their last chance.

Once again will be unable to fault his players' commitment, spirit and application. A tough relegation six-pointer saw Logica playing the better football and carving out enough chances to win the game comfortably. Whilst it would have been a huge boost to claw back a full three points on our nearest rivals, a draw is not the end of the world. It does mean however that Logica can afford nothing less than victory against Everyman (three points above Logica at the start of play) next Sunday when the bottom two sides meet at the Stade d'Ilea.