Logica's first game for three weeks against league leaders CMR Reserves was lucky to escape being rained off, and the match was played on a mud-bath of quagmiric proportions. Supremo Fleming had fled north of the border, and it was left to Joint Supremo Hatton to take on the mantle of rabble organiser.

Hatton has never had much luck on his occasional glimpses of power. On one such occasion, we kicked off with 9 players whilst Jeff and someone with a car went to look for other players. During another game under Hatton's jurisdiction, two Logica players were carted off to hospital. And most famously in his last solo venture at the helm, a mix-up led to the kit not turning up. We made the best of it of course, and played in whatever clothes we could muster, but the sight of Toman running around in his grandpappy long-johns does tend to linger in the memory. There was no chance of the sleek Geordie trend-setter humiliating himself again in public, and he duly failed to materialise. Padilla's non-appearance for a record-breaking seventh week on the trot was less surprising.

Whilst Hatton had struggled to scrape together a bare eleven, we did have the consolation of the return of the legendary Skippy to renew his central midfield partnership with Jon Clarke. Tim Wood was also making his debut for the club. Showing some perceptive tactical nouse, Hatton shuffled his pack and played Spence as sweeper and Hoyland was given the chance to revert to his more normal forward role. Spence has been moaning for years that he wants to play as sweeper. True to form, after the match, he complained that he would rather have played up front today. Some people, eh?

CMR Reserves were in good form, as well as being table-toppers, they had also registered a 14-0 victory against West London Utd, who Logica had drawn 4-4 with in their previous game. Reputations are of no concern to Logica and they had taken the lead inside a minute. Hoyland latched on to a pass out on the right touch-line, and used his Owenesque pace to burn off two defenders and fire home. Clearly he felt he had something to prove to der management. Logica continued to play well through the half and some crisp passing created a number of chances. CMR were clearly a good side, with one particulary good forward, but Logica's revamped defence looked very effective, and the closest CMR came to equalising was a theatrical dive over the on-rushing Appleyard which the referee correctly ignored.

Old habits die hard of course, and Logica contrived to concede a goal early in the second half. Appleyard did well to save the first shot but the rebound fell invitingly into the path of a fellow forward. Logica continued to play their passing game on a difficult surface, but rarely threatened the opposing keeper. This was due in part to an injury picked up by Hoyland in the first half, a suspected dislocated shoulder. With no substitutes, Hoyland bravely stayed on the pitch in true 1950's Cup Final style, but he certainly no longer posed the threat exemplified by his goal. On the other hand, debutante Wood was impressing immensely with some good passing and strong running, and Logica's midfield three of Wood, Richmond, and Clarke frequently combined well.

CMR's pacey forward put the visitors in the lead with a burst of speed and a blistering finish, but Logica never gave up. First Richmond hit the bar with a strong header from a good cross by Gow. Then Abbott hit the underside of the bar with a thumping 20-yarder, the ball bouncing just the wrong side of the line from Logica's point of view. It was not going to be Logica's day, and this was confirmed when CMR added a soft third goal, a free-header from a free-kick catching the Logica defence asleep for once.

So a defeat, but Logica played well against the league leaders, and played some good football at times. The defence looked good against by far the best attack we have faced. And Chris Bramwell deserves credit for a solid performance at wing-back when not feeling at the 'peak of physical fitness'.