Having had no game last week, just as we were getting into our winning streak, Logica struggled yesterday to dispatch fairly poor opposition, and ended up drawing 4-4 against West London Utd. Continuity was not further enhanced by a large number of enforced team changes, with Trovato, Appleyard, Clarke, Scholes and Asampong all notable absentees from the 5-2 victory two weeks ago.

The well-documented recent problems of Gazza would appear not to be as isolated as one might think. Even at our level the stresses and pressures on a Sunday morning are immense. And it seems that the burden of trying to re-establish a Logica team that compares with the all-conquering, star-studded side of the late Eighties is becoming too great for current Supremo Scott Fleming. Failing to appear at the designated 'meet', fellow committee member Hatton was dispatched to try and find our missing leader. Fleming was finally located sobbing near a railway platform, somewhat the worse for wear after his 780 Hooches (orange flavour) and 29 crates of "Newky" Brown (as the Sun calls it). Despite this, Fleming was woken up, and appeared quite happy to come down and play in goal. It is not yet clear whether Fleming will be spending the next 6 weeks in a drying-out clinic with Gazza. Still, at least Logica should be able to call on second-choice keeper Padilla if this is the case.

Fleming was quickly into his stride and made a sharp save in the opening minute. But the Logica Way was quickly established, and some speedy counter-attacking saw two goals and a number of chances missed. Hoyland had a shot inches past the post before Spence opened the scoring. Abbott played a through-ball which made the chance too easy for Spence, who entertained himself by playing a one-two with the post before tapping home. Spence returned the compliment by robbing a defender and squaring for Abbott to slot home from close range. Then Logica lost it completely, and West London were allowed to make it 2-2 by the interval (even if the first was an obvious hand-ball by the scorer).

A switch from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 at the break allowed Logica to re-establish superiority. A number of chances were squandered before Hatton played a perceptive defence-splitting pass to Spence. With only the keeper to beat, Spence unselfishly squared to Lambert who rolled the ball into an empty net (3-2). [Preposterously, Lambert later claimed in the pub that he would have done the same for Spence if the roles had been reversed....] Despite this Logica somehow contrived to let poor opposition back into the game, and an equaliser soon materialised (3-3). Substitute "Keiran's mate" Phil ran half the length of the pitch to set up a tap-in for Spence (4-3), but again Logica were unable to hold their lead and another scrappy goal was conceded with just minutes left on the watch.

For those with long memories, our referee for yesterday's game was none other than the infamous "Mr Bean" who abandoned that game two seasons ago in the 89th minute after being heckled by a seven year old girl on the side-lines.