Despite being a veteran of many all-night card schools on the eve of a big game, the Supreme Groomo was called upon to take a huge gamble on the outcome of Logica's season before this vital match. Logica and London Radnor had not played each other this season, and fixture decongestion dictated that this game become a dreaded double header.

With Radnor on the same number of points as Logica, and things quite close at the summit of Division Two, six points for either side would put them in prime position for a promotion slot. Nil points, and mid-table mediocrity would be all that remained on the horizon. Groom's Russian Roulette entailed either backing Logica's superior fitness in two one-hour games with three points at stake in each, or going double-or-quits in a single game for six points. The Supremo's gambling urges prevailed and he put all his money on the do-or-die latter option. Given what was at stake, CCO (Chief Cliché Officer) Jez Brown summed it up succinctly by noting that this was "the proverbial twelve-pointer".

Logica had suffered three consecutive postponements, and it was typical that now that they finally got to play a match, some key members of the squad were unavailable. Striker Hoyland had somehow injured himself in the interim (which is a delicate back muscle according to our medical dictionary), whilst midfield maestros Jon Clarke and Sandric Loriot were both unavailable. But the biggest impact was at the back, where Richmond, Trovato, Hattons Major and Minor, and new keeper Lee Pendleton were all absent for various injury or burnt-house reasons. As it turned out, though, a makeshift back four of Groom, Denyer, Mainwaring and Brown coped admirably.

An innate rustiness was evident for much of the first half, and a competent Radnor side applied the pressure early doors. It was Kiran Amin in his first start for the club who did most to keep Logica in the hunt. Some dogged defending was complemented by some skilful runs down the right, and such was his solitary threat that Radnor had already resorted to scything him down on at least three occasions in the first quarter.

Building on this response, Logica took the lead via a fairly direct route. Craig Taylor's long throws had already caused some uneasy moments in the home team's defence, and his latest hand-grenade found Reevaldo arriving on a well-timed run to glance a header sort of goalwards. A Radnor defender tried to stop the ball reaching Banoub at the far post, but only succeeded in chesting the ball into his own goal (1-0).

Radnor replied with an equally sloppy goal. A free kick was curled into the Logica penalty area and somehow managed to evade all heads and flaying feet and end up in the back of the net (1-1). Further dead-ball mayhem ensued when a lethally delivered corner found Radnor's centre-half arriving unmarked to bullet a header past a helpless Fleming from eight yards (1-2).

Rocked by this turnaround, Logica's passing game, such as it had been, went to pot for the remainder of the half. Radnor created further half-chances although the back four battled on effectively to stifle much of the threat. It was still Amin who looked Logica's likeliest lifeline, and he culminated one typically dextrous and persistent run by slipping the ball to Abbott in a good position. The veteran striker cut inside the last defender in elaborate fashion, but a weak right foot shot was straight at the keeper when he should have done better.

Otherwise Logica's best chances came from unnerving the opposition. Reevaldo was unlucky to be flagged offside galloping clear after Banoub had robbed a defender and played him in. It was Banoub again causing mayhem with an aerial challenge on two defenders. Craig Taylor pounced on the loose ball, taking it perfectly in his stride to break clear, only to be felled by a desperate defensive lunge. The free-kick was blasted wide.

An uplifting half-time lecture stiffened the resolve, and Logica restarted the match in a different gear. Hassling their opponents and moving the ball quickly, suddenly Radnor looked very vulnerable. Banoub nearly latched onto an Abbott through-ball within seconds, and Logica maintained that initiative. It was Abbott himself who came closest to equalising, launching himself at a Gautam cross only to see his diving header fly inches the wrong side of the post. Reevaldo had a couple of half-chances, but found his shots blocked on both occasions, and Amin was bundled over just inside the penalty area. Abbott was already marching to the spot as the referee awarded a free-kick 2cm outside the area.

Radnor recovered and should have increased their lead via a long ball over the top. Their striker rounded Fleming but then rolled the ball wide of the post. His blushes were saved when Radnor did add a slightly fortuitous third. A twenty yard free-kick was blocked by a sturdy Logica wall, but the rebound fell nicely into the path of one of their players. A low shot evaded the on-rushing Fleming, and Jez Brown's desperate goal-line lunge could not save the day (1-3).

Groom brought on Fazel and Marsh in an attempt to try and inspire a change of fortune, but Logica had lost their way a little, and despite much huff and puff, they struggled to pass swiftly and incisively on a poor surface. However, their luck was in with just fifteen minutes remaining as the Radnor keeper played a cross-field pass straight into the path of Abbott who had the simplest of tasks to roll the ball into an empty net (2-3).

This was the cue for a final onslaught, which sought to rescue something from the morning's endeavours. Logica took the game to Radnor and with more luck could have even won the game. Debutante substitute Mercer Field set the ball rolling with a gritty run down the left, and shortly afterwards unleashed a low drive from an Abbott pass that had the keeper pulling off a fine save at full stretch. Amin was still going strong, and another excellent dribble down the right resulted in a superb cross that took the keeper out. Unfortunately, Fazel arriving at the far post could not quite get his head far enough round the ball, and his effort was inches wide. Taylor bulldozed his way into the area, but his final shot off balance was high and wide. Finally, Captain Gautam unleashed one of his fizzing drives which beat a flailing keeper but was once again inches the wrong side of the post.

The final whistle brought deep disappointment for the very tired Logica players, not to mention the loss of six vital points. There may be a heated debate as to the wisdom of the Supremo's pre-match gamble, but at the end of the day, and despite an indifferent performance, Logica came very close to snatching some points. And without the benefit of hindsight it is impossible to say whether the alternative, reliant as it would have been on Logica's superior fitness, would have been any more successful.