This all getting rather repetitive and tedious. All I really need is a link to a default match report which enables me to edit the line-up (which is the only thing that changes significantly from week to week at the moment). This would include paragraphs on the following. A significant number of players (insert: "Davis, Clarke(J), Anthony, Toman, Johninho, Hoyland") are unavailable for various reasons. Yet another new keeper (insert: "Padilla") is identified but fails to turn up, with the result that a valuable outfield player (insert: "Appleyard") is sacrificed to the gloves. A number of players turn up late (insert: "Pace, Benwell") putting pressure on the committee and results inevitably in a chaotic, rushed and disorganised start to the game. Consequently we play appallingly for the first (insert: "thirty") minutes. Passing is terrible, movement off the ball non-existent, defence looks vulnerable. Opposition (insert: "second-from-bottom Dark Star") take advantage and score (insert: "three") early goals. Logica recover slightly once the game is out of reach, but subsequently degenerate after half-time and concede another (insert: "five") sloppy goals. Xenophontos, still jealous of Johninho’s massive publicity, attempts to get himself sent off again (insert: "via a deliberate hand-ball in the box which conceded a penalty"). Logica still await their first league win of the season.

A few details should perhaps be added. Unlike the previous week, a reasonable number of chances were created and two goals scored. Abbott hit the post from thirty yards with a lob, and also had a header from a corner brilliantly saved on the line. From the resulting corner Abbott repeated the near-post header, but this time it came back off the bar. Hatton also headed another quality corner from Fleming just wide. In the second-half Abbott scored by anticipating a short goal-kick from the Star keeper, and obviously lobbing it back over his head. Hatton scored with a well-directed header from an accurate Burdett free-kick. Abbott also continued in his obsession with out-Sidawaying Sidaway. After the umpteenth goal conceded, he received the ball straight from the kick-off, flicked it up and volleyed it first time goalwards half the length of the pitch. Whilst having the accuracy, it unfortunately didn’t quite have the distance, although the keeper had to stretch to stop the goalbound effort going in over his head. Abbott, Spence and Gow were the only players to impress, and these three combined late on for Burdett to head just over the bar.

As tends to happen as a bad run of form develops, heads begin to hang and confidence gets lower. Logica really need to snap out of this depression soon, or this season may go the way of last. It shouldn’t, for there is a larger pool of quality players available as a result of the excellent scouting work undertaken by the new committee. We only need to look back to our impressive draw with table-topping St Anselms for encouragement. But players do need to take some personal responsibility for making themselves available regularly, turning up on time, and most importantly applying themselves on the field and playing with a little pride. End of lecture.