Fleming's perceptive strategy of bringing back the Lags is paying early dividends. A side packed full of experience and trophy-lifting know-how gained a 1-1 draw in the top-of-the-table clash away to Lusitanos. And this hard-earned point was also enough to extend Logica's unbeaten start to the season to four games.

At 10am in the Hillcross Avenue Stadium Player's Lounge, it could have been 1989 rather than 1999. Elder supporters may have required a double-take on spying in the far corner Messrs Spence, Abbott, Richmond and Sidaway comparing their newly purchased Tier One football boots and totting up their combined ages (141 years according to this reporter's abacus). The only difference ten years down the line was the colour of said goalscoring accessories, now blue and yellow rather than old-fashioned black. Abbott had even purchased his 'golden boots' in a sale, proving that he had miserably failed to achieve promotion from Tier Two status in the intervening decade. Another hint that we may be in a time-warp, was the fact that the kit had failed to materialise. The old Sunday morning maxim that the player who will be late, will always be the one with the kit, still held true. But most confusingly for those wondering what year it was, Logica were top of the league. Just like ten years ago.

After some delicate referee-diplomacy that was greatly aided by the absence of Johninho, Logica were able to delay the kick-off time until those famous red and black shirts finally arrived courtesy of a dallying Hatton (P). Despite the resultant pre-match panic, Logica looked reasonably organised once the whistle blew, and they were able to match Lusitanos in the early passages of play.

A number of Logica's precise combinations were broken up by virtue of a poor last pass, but after 25 minutes they finally got it right. A period of concerted pressure had stretched the home defence, and now Abbott fed his strike-partner out on the left touch-line. Spence whipped in a dangerous cross but nobody could get a touch on it. A Lusitanos player tried to dribble the ball away by the corner flag, but Burdett nipped in alertly to rob him. The right wing-back's first attempt at a cross was blocked, but he collected the rebound and curled in a perfect cross that lured, but alluded, the Lusitanos keeper. Just beyond the stranded number one, was Abbott, who mustered a salmonic leap from those 'experienced' legs to head the ball into the unguarded net for his first goal of the season [1-0].

Taking the lead further boosted Logica's new found confidence, and they began to play with some aplomb. Unfortunately, they were stopped in their tracks by a very controversial equaliser. A volleyed clearance by Trovato was charged down by the outstretched hand of a Lusitanos forward. He then burst clear whilst the Logica players looked expectantly towards the man in black, and unleashed an unstoppable pile-driver that gave Fleming no chance [1-1]. Polite enquiries revealed that the otherwise excellent referee had seen the handling of the ball, but viewed it as "unintentional".

Abbott had an immediate chance to regain the lead after good work by Spence. The Scot dribbled into the box before pulling back a low cross. The ball was missed by a number of defenders and reached Abbott, once more lurking at the back stick. Sadly his snapshot flew wide of the mark from six yards. Just how long he will persist with his 'shiny new boots' excuse is not clear.

At the break the injured Gow was replaced by the legendary Sidaway, making his fourth comeback in an unfeasibly long career. It was Logica's kick-off and Sidaway immediately instigated an old Lags' ploy of trying to catch the opposing goalkeeper unawares by shooting direct from the kick-off. Disappointingly for Logica's biggest crowd of the season, Sidaway was about as close as Johnny Wilkinson had been with most of his kicks against the All Blacks the day before.

As the second half progressed Logica began to tire, and possession was conceded more readily as a result. However fitness is gradually improving and they were still able to carve out the better opportunities. Burdett continued to provide excellent service from the right. A free-kick of his found Hoyland unmarked, but the latter's header bulletted just over the bar. A Burdett corner caused mayhem as it glanced the face of the cross-bar. Hatton (J) was quickest to react as he met the rebound on the half-volley from an acute angle, but this time the ball cannoned back off the post. A later corner resulted in a poor clearance which gained height but no distance. Richmond inevitably and elegantly rose above the masses, but his header was too close to the keeper.

In between times, Logica's back three again defended with composure and solidity. Trovato and the Hattons (sounds like a 1950's skiffle group) were playing together for the third consecutive game and seem to have things pretty well organised. The only real moment of danger came from a skidding shot from distance that Fleming did brilliantly to deflect around the post. Logica could have nicked all three points as they carved out a good opening late on. Gautam crowned another impressive midfield performance by turning his man with a Zidanesque dummy, and fed Abbott on the right wing. The goalscorer played a low first-time pass into the path of the advancing substitute Banoub, who did well to hit the ball first time, but the shot flew wide.

And so Logica could perhaps consider themselves a little unfortunate to be restricted to a point, at least as regards chances created. It did, however mean that they maintained pole position, above Lusitanos on goal difference. With the exception of Barry Millar's exploits in Bordeaux, Logica have not seen such a consistency of table-topping since the days when Abbott, Spence, Richmond and Sidaway were in their prime all those years ago.