Logica continued to suffer from an extended hangover against Lusitanos today as they slumped to their third consecutive league defeat. Despite a strangely stilted performance that found them 3-0 down after an hour, they showed some spirit in pulling back two goals as Abbott was belatedly brought off the bench. But after Logica missed two good chances for an equaliser, Lusitanos clinched all three points with a late fourth goal.

Prior to the game there was a very subdued atmosphere in the home dressing room, as a number of players seemed to be suffering from hangovers after some extended celebrations the previous day. Curiously Spence and Fleming did not seem to be suffering at all. Having flown all the way back from Hampden Park especially for the game, Abbott attempted to lighten the mood by offering Supremo Fleming his England jersey to wear whilst in goal. But, not for the first time this season, Abbott showed terrible timing, making his quip just as Fleming was settling down to fill in the team-sheet. Abbott duly found himself on the bench.

Logica started brightly and had the visitors on the back foot initially. Spence had a snapshot which the keeper saved, and a number of further raids forced corners in the first quarter of an hour. A good passing move fed Spence on the left and he bamboozled his marker, reached the bye-line and pulled back a low ball which unfortunately failed to find a colleague. Lusitanos are a good side though, and their quick breaks from the back started to cause problems. A number of threatening counter-attacks had been repelled by good defending before the visitors did score. The ball fell to a Lusitanos striker who drilled a low shot through a Hatton's legs and past the despairing dive of Fleming (0-1).

This goal further drained the confidence from Logica, and they failed to play with much cohesion for the remainder of the half. That said, there were sporadic chances to score. Banoub found himself unmarked at the far post, but the scorer of two goals last week misdirected his header back across goal. Even then Gautam was inches away from a touch that would have brought an equaliser. Jeff Hatton also had a bullet header from a corner brilliantly tipped over the bar. As the interval approached Lusitanos scored a second goal, once again Logica giving the ball away too easily in their own half. Possession was worked out to the right flank and the visiting right-back mis-hit a cross which sailed over Fleming and looped in at the far post - not the first time Logica have conceded such an unlucky goal this season (0-2).

Lambert joined the fray on the right wing, with Hoyland moving up to join Spence in attack. This rearrangement seemed to improve things slightly, and Logica posed a little more threat to the Lusitanos defence. The best move came when Phil Hatton passed down the left touchline to Spence who was away from his marker. The Scot advanced into the penalty area before spying Reevaldo emerging from his hole, but the cut-back had the Walsall Wizard stretching just a tad too much, and his shot was wide. Once again though, just as Logica seemed to be getting back into game, Lusitanos scored. A quick break found the home side stretched at the back, and the ball was worked well to a Lusitanos forward lurking on the left who shot hard into the corner of the net (0-3).

The be-gloved Supremo could bear his grudge no longer and Abbott was called from the bench. Within minutes Trovato played a quick free-kick to the substitute, who turned and spotted Spence making a run on the last defender. A long ball had the Lusitanos man in all kinds of confusion, and the ball fell perfectly into the path of the striker who lobbed perfectly over the advancing keeper (1-3).

There was nothing to lose now and Logica sensed weaknesses in their opponents back line. Spence was unlucky when he headed a Gautam cross inches over the bar with the keeper committed, but a second goal followed after brilliant work on the left by Jeff Hatton. A corner was partially cleared, but Hatton won the ball back, beat his man and sent in a perfect low cross which eclipsed the keeper and found the anticipating Abbott sliding in at the far post to score from close range (2-3). With ten minutes remaining, both sides seemed to sense that a comeback could be completed. Lusitanos resorted to some blatant time-wasting at every opportunity, but Logica kept their cool and pressed forward with purpose.

Phil Hatton picked up a booking for a crunching tackle from behind, but from the free-kick Logica cleared the danger and broke so quickly that attackers outnumbered defenders. The move was not quite as elegant as it could be, but finally Spence fed Hoyland who was free on the edge of the penalty area. He swivelled and shot in one movement, but the low drive was too close to the keeper. The Sheffield man did not lose heart and soon he was advancing well down the right flank. Looking up, he picked out Abbott in the middle of the penalty area, but the ageing striker fluffed his chance for the perfect retort to all his critics, as his downward header was once again straight at the keeper.

With this the game was up, and salt was rubbed into the wound as Lusitanos scored a fourth goal in the dying seconds. The ball was deflected by the referee into the path of a Lusitanos player, and Logica were caught short. The ball was moved to the right and a blistering finish beat the dive of Fleming (2-4). Although Logica probably didn't deserve a point from the game after a generally poor performance, it is a measure of how far their belief has improved this season that they came so close to nicking a draw.