Logica finally notched their first point of the season at the fifth attempt, as a display of character, persistence and no little skill finally yielded an 89th minute equaliser in dramatic circumstances. A draw was fully deserved, and at least added some credence to the claims following each of the previous three matches that Logica had been unlucky to lose.

It was , even at the ripe old age of 42, who is still writing his own headlines in more ways than one. Having trailed first 2-0, and then 3-1 with just ten minutes remaining, it was who really deserved the plaudits for two finely taken goals that had hauled Logica back into the game on each occasion. But with just 90 seconds left on the clock, produced some elaborate dribbling of the old school that lured a Red Star defender into a foolhardy lunge, before calling upon all his many years of experience to calmly stroke the spot kick home and draw the scores level at 3-3.

Such a scoreline would have seemed all but a far-fetched dream in the first twenty minutes of the game during which Logica were distinctly second best. The home side went into the match full of confidence after some good if pointless performances in recent weeks, but the gaffer's final words of wisdom in the pre-match team-talk had the typical Logica effect. "Compete from the off today lads, we can't afford to give the oppo the initiative and a goal head start like last week," inspired in his best impression of Appy Arry Redknapp.

Wise words indeed. Within two minutes Logica were a goal down as Red Star scored from their very first attack of the game. A raking break down the left at pace found Logica still getting up to speed. The ball was pulled back from the bye-line, and from the edge of the box, a United man controlled the pass in space before firing home lethally into the bottom left-hand corner [0-1].

Logica were shell-shocked and Red Star's blend of pace, power and slick passing had the home side on the back foot for the first quarter of the game. They were grateful to keeper on a number of occasions, most notably when he saved brilliantly with his foot from a United player, clean through on goal, firing low and hard. The second goal summed up the visitors' dominance. Under pressure in the right-back area, a neat series of one-touch triangles enabled the red shirts to play themselves out of trouble, before an incisive pass dissected the heart of the Logica defence. advanced, but the Red Star man flicked it past the exposed keeper and Logica were two down [0-2].

This second goal at least sparked Logica into some kind of response. Having half-heartedly chased shadows for twenty minutes, sleeves were metaphorically rolled up. Less ball chasing was required to conserve energy, but rather the Logica players began to choose their moments to apply meaningful pressure to the man on the ball. More 50-50s were won, more interceptions made, and with far more of the ball Logica began to create chances of their own.

did as much as anybody to inspire a comeback with his all-action example. A subtle run into the box was matched by the vision and accuracy of 's free kick delivery, and the Logica left-winger brought the ball down with a beautiful piece of control. Unfortunately the ball just wouldn't roll on, and as tried to dig it out from under his feet, a lunging defender made the vital block to clear. More bad luck followed when, from the edge of the box, deftly volleyed 's corner inches wide of the stanchion.

Logica were creating chances from open play as well. intercepted a Red Star pass and fed a good run by , but the latter's shot was blocked. Soon it was winning the ball back to play it wide to , but his return pass was just a tad too heavy and the United keeper gratefully dived on the ball before could get there. Perhaps the best chance fell to , who had also impressed with great skill and no little heart on the right flank. On the opposite wing, further good work from saw a cross into the box somehow evade everyone, and perhaps it was this element of surprise that prevented from finding the net at the back stick.

The growing momentum meant that it was no surprise when Logica did pull a goal back in the final minute of the half. was the inspiration, again showing more desire than the Red Star right back to win a 50-50 ball. took the ball on and picked out the run of with a low left-footed cross curled behind the back line. There was still much to do, but having gained half a yard on his marker, simply unleashed an unstoppable first time shot from 12 yards that fairly fizzed into the roof of the net over a stunned keeper [1-2].

As was observed somewhat tongue-in-cheek at the interval, it was a damned good time to score a goal, and Logica were once again buoyed and confident as the second half got under way. But it was so nearly a case of déjà vu, when Red Star came within inches of scoring with their first attack once more. It was Dann with a fizzing drive that so nearly claimed an ownie, his no-nonsense clearance thankfully curling a matter of centimetres the right side of 's left-hand post.

Red Star had clearly opted during the interval to concentrate on trying to keep the ball as the best means of repelling Logica's resurgence. But Logica were now defending more intelligently, allowing the visitors to stroke it around in their own half as long as they wished, and applying concerted pressure only when the ball reached the danger zone. and were like a pair of prowling Alsatians as they provided a screen in front of the back four, and when United did manage to get into the danger zone, Fazel and Dann were snapping at red heels to foil the threat. Red Star may have had a sizable majority of possession, but for the most part they were restricted to long range efforts, although one of these did come cannoning back off the bar!

For all Red Star's neat and sophisticated passing, it was a far more basic approach that restored their two goal lead. Harried by the corner flag, a United forward was never the less able to lay the ball back to his right back who found himself with time to cross. Red Star's leaping seven foot midfielder won his header against the jump of , and the ball looped under the bar despite the heroic effort of Dann to effect an acrobatic goal line clearance [1-3].

Once again, the goal conceded sparked Logica into a more attacking frame of mind. Some promising raids were foiled as the final pass was just intercepted, and Logica's best effort came when fired a quick free kick from a foot wide of the upright. , attempted a Bentleyesque belter, but the Red Star keeper made a far better fist of stopping the Logica man's forty yard effort from the left touchline than Almunia had the former's. It seemed that a Spurs-style miracle comeback was beyond Logica.

But with ten minutes left, the home side did pull a second goal back. It was once more at the heart of things, mopping up on the edge of his own box, and advancing a few strides before hitting a low and accurate pass towards the feet of on half way. In a moment of inspiration, the experienced forward dummied the ball, allowing it to run on past a wrong-footed and square Red Star back line. was on the same wave-length, however, and had timed his run to such perfection that even the flag-happy Red Star linesman deemed him onside. It was one against one, and the danger was too much time in which to decide what to do. But kept his head, advanced into the box before calmly side-footing wide of the lonely United keeper [2-3].

Red Star were rattled, and quite openly encouraged one another to waste time as the best means of holding on to their advantage. Logica were looking tired, despite the boost of the second goal, and struggling to get the ball back off visitors who were once again happy to knock it about at the back. Collectively Logica raised themselves for one last assault. it was once more who started things off, collecting the ball in the centre circle, and picking out , who had peeled off into the inside right channel, with an inch-perfect lofted pass. The striker bore down on the penalty area as fast as his aging legs would carry him, before cutting back inside the last defender and weighing up the options as his team-mates flooded forwards in support. Then with a quick flick of the right boot, he cut the ball back outside the same flummoxed defender and would have been in the clear had not a tired, late lunge brought him to the ground.

The referee informed one and all there was just a minute and a half to go as he pointed to the spot, and very generously went to fetch the ball as the old man got his breath back, making no mention of the fact that he himself was on a hat-trick. placed the ball on the spot, and took in the childish jeering of a couple of Red Star players as he walked back to his mark. The pressure was on, but had missed penalties on far bigger stages than this, and with his trademark élan sent the keeper one way whilst side-footing neatly into the other corner [3-3].

It was 's two hundredth domestic goal for Logica, a not insubstantial feat, but far more importantly it earned Logica their first point of the season when the referee blew the final whistle shortly after the restart. The satisfaction was clearly etched afterwards on the smiles of the home players, who had showed remarkable application, perseverance and no little skill in fighting back against strong opponents. With the new look team starting to blend, perhaps this performance will be the one that kick-starts the club's season.