A new year and new optimism. Unbeaten in the league since early November. On the crest of a wave having taken four points off our two nearest relegation rivals before Christmas. Playing the kind of free-flowing, expressionist football that the crowds so love. Well alright, one of these is a lie. But surely 1997 would find Logica fulfilling their potential, turning the corner on a sixpence, and winning some bauble or other that our Supremo could finally place in that still-empty MFI trophy cabinet delivered to the Clarke residence way back in the summer of '93?

'Errrr, no' would seem to be the obvious response after this game. Sidaway, returning for his first full game after the resolution of the SidGate affair, must have been aghast at what he found waiting for him after a years absence. It was as well that he did return though, for it was only the intelligent passing and competitive aggression of the experienced Geordie that made this a game for as long as it was.

An unusually positive 4-4-2 formation found Logica slow to get their act together and they conceded the traditional early goal. Some unusually calm possession play, particularly down the left, and often prompted by Sidaway, enabled the home side to edge back into things. A long throw by Toman was flicked on by Wilf's mate, and Abbott showed some rare striker's instinct to kill the ball, swivel, and slot home an equaliser. The game was fairly well-balanced for the remainder of the half with chances missed at both ends (most notably a free header missed by Abbott from 8 yards). However a quick counter by Cultural just before the break found the Logica defence in chaos, and Fleming was on hand to side-foot precisely past regular keeper Millar for an OG. A third goal quickly followed and the stuffing had been knocked out of Logica.

The second half is best forgotten, as Cultural added a further five goals apparently at will. Perhaps the most perplexing thing about this performance is our inability to explain what exactly we were doing so wrong that allowed our opponents to net eight. Still, it is unlikely that the old-fashioned 4-4-2 will be wheeled out for some time.