At last the quality football of recent weeks was converted into two valuable points by a depleted Logica squad showing great character and battling qualities. This was the first time we have beaten high-flying St Anselms in four years of trying. And it was another of the Legendary old, fat blokes who popped over from Tokyo to inspire a famous victory.

After intense competition for places over recent weeks, the sudden unavailability of Manlio Trovato, Jon Clarke and David Richmond left Supremo Fleming tearing his hair out in an attempt to assemble a full complement of players. Such tricky situations often have a silver lining, and so it was that Theo Asampong was given the chance to play an impressive debut. Further problems were averted at the last moment, when a quick stop at The Waldorf Hotel on the way to the Links Avenue Stadium, unearthed that legend of yesteryear, Mr Simon Woolhouse, lurking in the Champagne Bar.

A surprisingly strong wind turned the match into that old favourite, a game of two halves. Logica faced the wind in the first period but incredibly were a goal up after just 29 seconds, less time than it takes Johninho to prise a red card from an unsuspecting referee. A characteristically flowing move down the left resulted in Abbott feeding Woolhouse, who was still just lasting the pace at this point. Woolhouse conjured up one of those through-balls that the older generation of Logica fan still dribble over to this day. Saints’ centre-half was flummoxed by this early penetration, and the ball ran into Spence’s path. The keeper rushed out but Spence casually flicked the ball left-footed over the lunging goal-minder, and Logica were 1-0 up.

St Anselms gathered themselves together and began to apply concentrated and wind-assisted pressure on the Logica goal. A succession of long shots and corners found Logica defending in depth. Appleyard in goal dealt with all that was thrown at him and Hatton marshalled his troops impressively. Indeed the Logica libero lead by example, and it was Hatton’s head that was regularly first to some dangerous corner kicks. During twenty-five minutes of sustained defending, Logica rarely advanced out of their half, but feventually a sharp break down the right forced a corner. Fleming arrowed in one his vicious dead-ball kicks, Abbott flicked on at the near post, and Hatton anticipated to perfection to nod home from a few yards and give the home side a 2-0 lead.

Thereafter, Saints resumed their aerial assault. Logica stood firm until the umpteenth corner resulted in a goal pulled back. Some penalty box head-tennis culminated in a Saints player heading goalwards. Hatton on the line leapt to try and clear, but could only help the ball over the line. Shortly, a fluke goal saw Saints level at 2-2. An attack was broken down by the impressive Pace, but incredibly his clearance cannoned off a Saint Anselms boot and ricocheted fifteen yards past a stunned Appleyard into the goal.

Just as they were beginning to think that half-time parity was no mean feat against such a wind, Logica nicked a third goal. The best move of the match saw concise passing move Logica down the left. Toman cut the ball back to Fleming, who showed good vision to pick out Burdett advancing on the opposite flank. The flying wing-back arced in a quick and dangerous cross. Abbott jumped but the ball came off a defenders head and fell to Anthony, who thumped a volley home from six yards. This was Anthony’s first goal for the club and was just reward for his increasingly confident performances in the centre of midfield.

The second act found the roles reversed and now Saints were penned into their own half. Logica continued to show a tigerish appetite for the tackle and won the majority of loose balls. Burdett and Anthony in particular won plenty of possession, and fed the front two intelligently. Toman was as dangerous as ever on the left, working neatly with Fleming, and Woolhouse influentially directed the traffic at 1988 levels. Had it not been for some poor final passing, particularly from Abbott, a fourth goal would surely have come sooner. As it was, Logica had to wait some twenty minutes before another excellent Fleming corner was headed home at the far post by the veteran Woolhouse.

The comfort of a two-goal cushion might have encouraged Logica to relax, but instead they buckled down and battled even harder. Theo Asampong was brought on quickly to shore up the midfield, as the hard-working Logica players were in danger of tiring. Some strong runs and good passing announced Asampong’s arrival, and maintained the Logica momentum. Sporadic St Anselms attacks were quickly snuffed out by the hard tackling of Ian Clarke and Mark Pace. And Logica played an intelligent possession game which also helped to relieve any possible danger. The margin of victory could and should have been larger. With minutes left, Woolhouse played another telling long pass, although he received an elbow in the face for his troubles. The quick-thinking referee played advantage as Abbott was in the clear. The experienced forward showed some rare pace and danced around the keeper, before calmly slotting wide from four yards.

However, the final whistle was not long in arriving and Logica were justified in celebrating a famous victory against the odds. St Anselms were less than magnanimous in their unfamiliar role as the vanquished. One of their more artisan midfielders was overheard observing that Saint Anselms had "been beaten by a bunch of f***ing yuppies!" There was clearly no time to be lost, and the whole Logica team headed off to The Beverley public house to discuss the worrying trends in London property prices, and the key factors in Logica’s currently rocketing share price. And, of course, Mr Woolhouse was gratefully chauffeured back to The Waldorf.