An emotional roller-coaster of a game, saw the new-look Logica playing enough quality football to maintain both their unbeaten start to the season and their 50% record. In a game of four quarters, Logica began each half strongly before fading, letting a competent Southfields side (playing their first game in such exalted company) off the hook each time. Even then, ageing striker Abbott spurned a glorious opportunity two minutes from time which would have secured both the points on offer.

The Logica rear-guard, despite the continuing absence of a recognised goalkeeper, dealt comfortably for the most part with a tricky Southfields attack. Clarke and Appleyard again excelled in marking roles, but it was Hatton that was the pick of the triumvirate. His positional sense made the job of libero look easy, and he almost invariably appeared in the right place to snuff out potential danger. It is the de-ponied defender’s distribution, however, which elevates him above your run-of-the-mill sweeper and finds him regularly the initiator of offensive moves.

In contrast, the goal-scoring department looks somewhat ineffectual. Unlike last season, a significant number of good chances are now being created, the problem now being that they are not being taken. With the exception of new-boy Nigel Hoyland, whose headed equaliser was out of the top drawer, the attacking half of the team should try enrolling in a Finishing School. The two best moves of the match by Logica were wasted poor final shots. In the first half, a long ball by Hatton was deftly laid off by Abbott into the path off right wing-back Burdett. The new-comer advanced purposefully before picking out Toman arriving unmarked at the far-post. From eight yards, Toman should have buried the perfect cross, but instead his thunderbolt clipped the top of the bar as it rose heavenwards. More dramatically, Abbott fluffed his closing lines with only seconds left on the clock. A goal-kick was headed on by Spence. Abbott anticipated well, swivelled on half-way, and sent Toman clear on the left. Beating one man, the irrepressible Geordie put into practice a much discussed tactic, and laid an inviting pass back to the unmarked culprit. Using all his striker’s instinct, Abbott screwed a first-time left-foot shot wide from ten yards and a second point went begging.

New Logica would seem to be doing better than New Labour with their attempts at democratic socialism. The squad system is being used to full advantage, and providing one and all with equal opportunities. Two more young hopefuls were given debuts today, and both Graeme Ord and Chris Searson could be pleased with their contributions. Searson in particular had a fine second half between the sticks, after a demoralising start when his first task was to pick the ball out of the net - a Sothfields snapshot on the turn bounced awkwardly just inside the post. Hoyland’s immediate reply from a Johninho free-kick restored team spirit, and Searson produced a series of brilliant reflex saves and confident catches from crosses to keep the home side at bay. One full-length diving save in particular defied belief.

The other star performance was from Neil Burdett in only his second game for the club. His intelligent passing and strong running added some threat from Logica’s right for the first time in a long while. This in turn allowed Johnson and Toman to exploit more space on the left and they combined particularly well in the first half. Such were Burdett’s defensive efforts also, that he had run himself into the ground on Logica’s behalf by the time Bramwell replaced him on the hour. Shortly before this Trovato had somewhat magnaminously substituted himself, and for the last twenty minutes Logica struggled without their captain to maintain either possession or rhythm. Even then, a victory might have been snatched had Abbott located that barn-door.