After last week's memorable victory against the old enemies Sarkpoint, it was perhaps not surprising that this "bread and butter" game away to lowly Churchill Arms turned out to be an uninspiring anti-climax. Despite their determination to avoid complacency, two goals in the first couple of minutes made it difficult to envisage the possibility of defeat. A commanding half-time lead resulted in the players looking nearly as jaded as their shirts in the second half. However, although the team did not play that well overall, to be disappointed after a 7-3 victory demonstrates the standards that the players now set themselves.
The pitch was small, and each half was on a different level with an abrupt slope joining the two. Even Yeovil would struggle on such a surface. A blustery wind and a pudding of a ball did not improve conditions. Still, I don't want this to sound like a Kenny Dalglish apres-defeat press conference, so I won't mention the poor standard of refereeing. "It's the same for both sides." Quite.
A frantic start saw three goals in the first five minutes. First, the purple trousered one squandered a good chance excellently constructed for him by . Two successive corners resulted, and made amends from the second by drilling a low shot from eighteen yards which found it's way between three defenders on the line. A second goal was quickly added when a long throw from was deflected into his own goal by a defender.
Churchill pulled one back immediately with a penalty. A long hoof down the middle would cause Logica a few problems during the game, but luckily seemed to be the only weapon in Churchill's Armoury. This one left requiring an outstretched leg to clear the ball at the last moment. As the forward tumbled to the ground, the referee in his wisdom pointed to the spot. , playing in goal due to a slight injury, dived the right way and was unlucky that his finger-tips could not divert the ball the other side of the post.
Logica ignored this hiccup, and whilst never hitting the form of the previous week, created many chances. More goals were inevitable. Good work by produced a cross to . He cleverly let the ball run past him, and then turning sharply volleyed the ball into the top right-hand corner. Soon after, good approach work by gave the chance to shoot from 25 yards. His left-foot thunderbolt crashed against the bar and was deflected over. From a free-kick in his own half, flighted a perfect through pass down the right wing. moved onto it quickly, and lobbed over the advancing keeper from a difficult angle. The inevitable lob from provided the fifth goal. A poor goal kick was collected by the striker, and a firm left-foot shot looped over the retreating keeper and under the bar.
Defensively Logica had few scares. A weak back-pass by fell to a Churchill forward, but his shot hit the bar. Churchill's most dangerous player was their right-winger, but , playing out of position at left-back had an excellent game, and the player was restricted to very few attacking opportunities. As a result, Logica had a lead at half-time of 5-1.
A tactical switch at half-time saw rejoin the attack, and the ever unfortunate replacing him. in goal. The reshuffle had a sensational impact, with scoring within thirty seconds of the restart. Pressure by resulted in a short backpass, which was pounced upon by the striker to score Logica's third lobbed goal of the game.
Logica were now in a comfortable position. To Churchill's credit they never gave up. had to pull off two fine saves to maintain Logica's advantage. Logica now looked tired and there was little movement off the ball. Churchill pulled a goal back direct from a corner. As the ball sailed towards the far post, a positive call from reassured his defenders: "Its alright, its over." This spurred the ball on, and it landed perfectly between post and bar, before nestling at the foot of the net. commented after the match, "My judgement was perfect, but the goal-posts were crooked."
Logica rallied for one last goal, possibly their best of the game. won a header at right-back, and turned the ball on first time to . Another first time ball found clear on the right, and his low cross picked out perfectly for the striker to slide home his second. Churchill added a third against a now ragged Logica after an excellent move down the right. However, Logica were never in danger of losing, and the welcome sound of the final whistle allowed weary legs to retire to the pub.