After a week resting at his Supremely secret East Coast lair, doubtless devising yet another Promotion Masterplan, returned to seize the Logica leadership reins with forceful and dramatic impact. After a meek Cup exit under the Houllieresque hands of temporary stand-in , the real gaffer strode imperiously back to the dug-out to inspire his charges to an emphatic 4-0 win over newly promoted Welham Athletic, and dispel any fears that the Red Star mauling would have any lasting psychological side-effects beyond and 's post-crash trauma.

This second consecutive league victory was achieved in convincing fashion via a splendid all-round team display. Welham could play a bit, but defensively Logica held so firm that keeper hardly had a save to make, and was reduced to swinging his handbag about to pass the time. At the other end, worries about Logica's ability to score goals were allayed, the return of striker and three goals from midfield going some way to relieving 's fears of a blunt cutting edge.

Clearly the gaffer was keen to stop everyone getting too carried away, but could not hide a smile of immense satisfaction at the post-match press conference. "Yes, this is the kind of game we need to win if we seriously expect to be a contender this season," he grinned. "But we have to do this week in, week out up until Christmas, before I'll countenance mention of the P-word," added with a scowl. "I've been around long enough to see the occasional good win trigger hyperbolic talk of silverware, only for us to come crashing back down to earth the following week with a disappointing defeat."

Off the field there seemed less restraint in the optimism stakes from a huge band of travelling Logica supporters. If the numbers and noise are anything to go by, it is clear they believe the club is in for something above the usual mid-table mediocrity this season. It is not often Logica fans get to really enjoy a Sunday morning outing, but the cries of "Ole!" from a pack of a-dooring admirers as toyed with a bamboozled defender on the far touchline and tried to skip through a seemingly unpassable barrier, hinted at pure pleasure.

Further encouraging signs were to be found in the realisation of the squad's strength in depth. Despite still suffering from the bad back picked up during last season's glove-wearing stint, 's last minute drop out, and ' latest injection (cortesone, that is, rather than pace), was still able to name an impressive looking 14, with a star-studded bench that rivalled the one down at the Bridge.

The Garratt Lane Stadium boasted a pitch of Peter Crouch-like proportions - long, thin, but deceptively good on the ground. Logica took some time to get to grips with the gangly dimensions, but in the meantime a strong back four dealt comfortably with the long balls pinged repetitively by the Athletic number six into the channels. , looking assured at left-back, had faced a Sven-like pre-match conundrum caused by the availability of a glut of world class centre-halves. With recovered from his nasal problems, cast him in a dream central pairing alongside . But unlike Rio, the MoM-dominating was too good to drop, and was instead slotted neatly in at right-back.

It was not long before the visitors had acclimatised, and was proving a potent threat working the channels at pace. His persistence won a string of corners and free-kicks, and both and went close with headers from two of these dead-balls. But it was and , once more in harness in the middle of the park, who combined to unpick the lock. It was the Welshman who won the ball in the centre circle, and burst forward, drifting inside one man before releasing the overlapping down the left with perfect timing. The Surrey Sorcerer was equal to the task, and bided his time before releasing a perfect low cross, curled behind the last defender for the predatory to slide home at the back stick. A quite superb goal! [1-0]

The second half began with a concerted period of pressure from the home side. But and the galloping remained in command, winning the ball high and low, and anticipating all that Welham could devise. Slowly Logica worked their way back into the fray, as the creative midfield quartet gradually clawed back possession and prompted more threat at the other end. But despite some increasingly neat build-up play, the second goal came in scrappy fashion. An pass was hit too hard at , but when a defender attempted to clear the rebound, 's block fell kindly into the path of the loitering and unmarked . Keeping his cool, the midfielder turned and guided a precise shot low past the keeper's right hand with aplomb [2-0].

Appearing to take a leaf out of Sven's Book of Caution, immediately withdrew one of his strikers, , and introduced defender to play in midfield. But those who thought this might be a case of shutting up shop (Logica FC?!), were soon disabused of this absurd notion as was shuffled forward for a rare chance to delve into his bag of striking tricks. Soon a blind-side run was rewarded with a peach of a pass from , but the wily 's low drive across the keeper trundled inches wide of the far post.

's determination to force an opening where seemingly none existed was rewarded when his persistence regained possession near the right touchline. The home left-back was having trouble with his lines, and thinking the ball had gone out of play, left and the ball to their own devices. Like some footballing matadoor, the Wolverhampton wizard backed away from the ball, goading his bullish opponent in for the kill. But when the lunge came, was too quick, whipping the ball clear like a red rag, and drawing the laudatory chants of "Ole!" from the away fans.

As the spectacle approached its climax, Logica unveiled a previously unseen ruthless streak and killed off the match with two contrasting finishes. Further pressure down the right flank tempted the keeper from his line, and forced a hurriedly shanked clearance that rolled towards some 40 yards from goal. Without a second thought, the elegant midfielder unleashed a crisply clipped lob of such perfection that a look of despairing resignation appeared on the frantically back-pedalling Welham number one's face long before the ball arced perfectly over his flailing hand and just under the bar [3-0].

Logica were enjoying themselves now, and another raking move forced a foul midway in the home half. took the kick, and delivered a superb ball into the box that coincided with a well-timed run from . The maverick midfielder was unphased at finding himself in the big number nine's position, and guided a header goalwards. In truth, the Welham keeper was presented with a relatively simple save. Perhaps it was a consciously spiteful act, but in any event his fumbled attempt at catching the ball only served to push it over the line and ruin an otherwise perfect headline opportunity [4-0].

If the players felt they could relax at last, - now directing matters from the sidelines - demanded a clean sheet to go with the hatful of goals already bagged at the other end. His charges responded, and repelled a late Welham bid for consolation with a brutal protection of their lines. was shown yellow for a no-nonsense felling of Welham's right-winger, who yelped with pain for some minutes afterwards. And, after taking a comfortable catch in the six yard box, reacted to a malicious kick in the shins with a lethal swing of the handbag that took two minutes and half the Logica team to diffuse.

It is a long time since this reporter has seen such aggression in a Logica side that, along with some good football and a deep determination to win, delivered a convincing victory that will have many pundits keeping an eye on events at the Stade in the coming weeks. Next Sunday's match against the other side promoted from Division Three, West Six, will provide an opportunity to see whether Logica have what it takes to continue their winning run, or whether Groom's cautious warnings will prove prophetic.