Any scepticism concerning Logica’s recent run of good form was blown away on Sunday when ’s astutely assembled squad turned in their best display of a rapidly improving season to sweep aside second placed Spectraprint by the emphatic and wholly justified margin of four goals to nil. The star of the show was talented young midfielder , who bagged an exquisite and quite lethal hat-trick that was just reward for an outstanding all-round display.

Logica’s last defeat was against the same opponents way back in November, when a late flurry of goals overturned our 3-2 lead. Since then, the team have put together a run that has seen them take 13 points out of the last 15, including 12 out of the last 12. One of these four straight wins was a match award against winless Duke Of Edinburgh, but it is a game we would have expected to win anyway.

The last time we put together three straight wins on the field was in September of the 2002/03 season, when a four-match unbeaten start came to a sad and tawdry end courtesy of ShabbyGate. To find when Logica last managed to put together four straight competitive victories, researchers had to trawl back twelve years through the archives to the 1992/93 season, when Logica drew one and then won five consecutive games between November and February.

Beyond the statistical curiosity, the manner of this victory was even more impressive. Having been denied deserved victory against Brixton, a classic Logica win against Invictus was achieved through some good early goals followed by some stout defending. The narrow win over the Tigers was satisfying in a different way, as it showed us able to take three points despite not playing well, an essential ingredient for any Championship hopeful.

But this latest win was a different matter altogether. True, victory was founded on our increasingly solid defence, but it was far from being a backs-to-the-wall job where we were hanging on to a slender lead in the face of a relentless second half siege. Logica were on top in all departments of the field, and attacked with a verve and variety that created enough chances to have won by far more.

Pleasingly it was the midfield that perhaps impressed most, and this despite missing the skill and hard work of . A shrewd tactical move saw deploy in the engine room, where the Italian’s bite and hard-tackling was complemented by his precise distribution. With working his way back to match fitness, and providing some guile and vision en route, Logica were able to slowly gain the ascendancy in the middle of the park.

But the extra string to Logica’s bow came on the flanks, where ’s wisdom beyond the ken of mere mortals was evidenced in his positioning of the left-footed on the right, and the right-footed on the left. These two never stopped running all morning, not only providing superb cover in front of their full-backs, but also constantly breaking at pace to support Logica attacks. And it was Logica’s ability to turn defence swiftly into attack that would prove highly effective.

It could all have started so differently. The first five minutes saw the visitors sluggishly shaking off last week’s lethargy and Spectraprint nearly taking full advantage. Some slack defending allowed the home side into the danger area, and as the ball fell loose, a Print forward swivelled sharply to fire a shot towards the roof of the net from just eight yards. But somehow keeper was equal to the task, and in a trice leapt to palm the ball away. Such reactions would be impressive in any circumstance, but coming just a couple of minutes into the game they were nothing short of miraculous.

This save seemed to act as a collective slap round the face, and Logica got down to business. The first step was to stifle the Spectraprint supply lines, and then quickly set about causing problems of their own. In the absence of , had handed the captain’s armband to . The striker was taking his responsibilities seriously, and despite losing the toss, was leading from the front. He it was who robbed a dallying defender and burst into the box before unselfishly pulled the ball back to his unmarked strike partner. Disappointingly, blazed high from twelve yards.

But it was not long before Logica’s increasing confidence was rewarded with a goal. Spectraprint were playing an increasingly precarious offside game, and Logica used their heads to find a way through. It was an impressive sequence of passing in their own half that laid the foundations, and when the ball fell to , he controlled a difficult pass on his chest before picking a pinpoint ball over the top. With the forwards holding back, it was who had timed his break to perfection, and from outside the box the cool-headed midfielder curled a shot around the exposed keeper and just inside the far post [1-0].

Spectraprint were still posing an occasional threat and Logica were a little lucky to escape when a rare error saw the ball run under his foot to leave a forward with a clear run on goal. But the miserly defender appeared to have made amends shortly afterwards when a through-ball again released a Print player. advanced but just as the striker pulled back the trigger, in slid with a perfectly timed tackle to clear the danger.

To the surprise of everyone, including the home side, the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. Perhaps Logica should have been less surprised. This, after all, was the infamous Radius Reynolds, who had awarded two penalties against Logica for equally innocuous challenges in the Supercala cup tie. The arbiter was not clear on the exact reasons for his arbitrary decision, but justice was seen to be done when the spot-kick hit the post, and was cleared to safety.

Logica resumed their offensive, and added a neat and well-deserved second goal minutes later. A long clearance cleared half-way and cushioned a volleyed pass into the path of the marauding . The Logica man burst clear, leaving the last Print defender in a heap on the ground, before clipping another clinical finish past the home goalie [2-0].

The visitors had their tails up now and continued to press. was inspired, and an lay-off played him into the inside right channel. The skipper cut inside a defender, but unfortunately couldn’t quite catch his left foot shot cleanly. drew a good save from the keeper after powering a header goalwards from a corner, and engineered himself a good position for a shot on goal.

The start of the second half saw Spectraprint stir themselves as they tried to claw their way back into the match. But Logica’s back four played as an effective and coherent unit, with winning plenty of tackles and headers, and the imperious sweeping up behind. The full-backs had plenty to do, but and defended with intelligent resolution. With providing equally determined cover just in front of the back line, ’s involvement was restricted to a couple of bravely punched corners and the occasionally comfortable fielding of a long shot.

Logica counter-attacked with menace, as and somehow continued their impressive work rate and regularly provided a dangerous outlet on the flanks. The former nearly completed his hat-tick when he made a great run in the inside left channel and controlled the ball neatly, but his scooped shot over the keeper didn’t quite have enough legs and was hacked clear just before it crossed the line. Meanwhile was posing a constant threat, finding space and running at defenders with menace. More good work from saw the ball run loose across the box, and was quick to pounce only to see his powerful volley smothered by the keeper.

After all the neat build-up play, the decisive goal finally came in somewhat scrappy fashion. Logica again broke at pace and found themselves with four against three. They almost had too many options, and two attempts by and to exchange passes were blocked, before a challenge from saw the ball run loose. A herd of players converged scrum-like on the bobbling sphere: the keeper looked favourite, but the telescopic leg of appeared from nowhere and just flicked the ball through the crowd and into the unguarded net [3-0].

The game was effectively over as a contest, but not only were Logica keen to keep a clean sheet, they still had the energy to push forwards. slipped a neat pass into the path of a diagonal run from , but although the midfielder deftly flicked the ball past the keeper, the shot didn’t have the power to find the net.

But Logica did add a deserved fourth goal before the end. Substitute challenged on the half way line, and managed to flick the ball on. had timed his run from his own half, and easily rounded a, by now, despairing Print keeper before side-footing casually home into an empty net [4-0].

The significance of this late fourth goal went beyond capping a superb team effort from Logica. It actually took their goal difference into previously unchartered positive territory. That can only be a good thing, as ’s charges set their sights on the promotion chasing pack just above them. The biggest problem now for the Supremo will be keeping feet firmly planted on the ground, and trying to ensure his confident side can keep reproducing this kind of form whilst taking each game as it comes.