Report by Craig Taylor

Back to the bread and butter of the league for the Goliath-slaying heroes of Logica FC with a visit to third-placed Parsons Green. After the glamour and romance of the cup, Logica were faced with the gritty reality of life in Sportsmans League Division Two. A Supremo-less Logica squad showed admirably tenacious qualities as they recovered a 1-0 half time deficit to come away 3-1 winners in a tight, scrappy and physical game.

The home of Parsons Green is set in the dilapidated remains of Hurlingham RFC, this once great stadium being situated between the exclusive postcodes of Fulham and Chelsea. However, the affluence of these areas has not spread to this corner of West London. The Hurlingham Stadium¹ groundsmen were clearly more used to tending rugby pitches than the bowling-green surfaces that Logica are used to. A pre-match inspection by Logica mandarins concluded that the pitch was just within league recommendations for minimum size and maximum grass length.

Logica were without Supremo Groom, who was still convalescing at his East Anglian 5-star country retreat, and Puppet Supremo Abbott, unavailable due to a Man-of-the-Match electorate-manipulation scandal. Thus the powers that be in the Logica FC board-room drafted in Leeds-lad Craig Taylor to be Deputy-Puppet Supremo [A Pup Puppet Puppet Supremo? Ed]. Clearly the club have been 'Groom'-ing this young lad for just such an occasion, as evidenced by "If Selected..."s exclusive report on the Leatherhead Academy.

Taylor elected to play the same, solid back five that were so successful in the giant crushing cup game, and he continued with the striking partnership of himself and Hoyland despite the return of Banoub. There were a few changes in midfield; Brown was moved into the centre to assist Wood, Reevaldo returned to the squad on the right wing and Fleming was given his first outfield role of the season on the left. The bench was kept warm with the talents of Damien Sutton, Paulé Gunnar Banoub and loan-signing Andy Devitt. Andy came highly recommended by Tim Wood, and the "If Selected..." rumour-mill is a-whirr with whispers that this new signing may be courtesy of Woods' six-month sojourn to South America.

Logica got the game under way and immediately set about trying to play their usual smooth passing style. Three or four quick passes soon sized up Logica's opponents and the state of the pitch - it was going to be a difficult game. Parsons Green were tough opponents, the kind that Logica usually struggle against. They were strong, organised and had good movement. The pitch was also conspiring to spoil Logica's game, with passes frequently caught up in the long grass. Parsons Green capitalised on these errors to good effect and had the visitors on the back foot, and Pendleton was called into action to save Logica's blushes. The home side continued to dominate with a string of corners that Logica did well to clear. Even Brown managed to successfully clear the ball without threatening his own goal.

The visitors created a few chances on the break; the best from a lofted through ball to Hoyland from Wood. With the keeper rushing out, Hoyzone opted to chip him, but the ball agonisingly dropped inches wide. This let-off seemed to spur Parsons Green to greater effort and sure enough their dominance paid off. A wicked curling ball from the right caused confusion between Pendleton in Logica's goal and the back four. Each thought the other should go for it, with the upshot that it fell to a Parsons' attacker at the back post who finished neatly. [0-1].

Logica again tried in vain to play football from the kick-off but the meadow-like grass thwarted their efforts. Their best efforts came from Taylor's long throws that, on the narrow pitch, nearly reached the far post. But his colleagues couldn't force the ball over the goal line.

With the play getting scrappy in the midfield, Parsons Green opted for the route-one ball which Trovato and Hatton Minor mopped up with ease. Unfortunately during one of these challenges, the Italian libero was adjudged to have fouled the diminutive Green striker and as the referee rushed over, he saw that the foul was committed just inside the box. Penalty! The striker, still dazed from the challenge, stepped up to take the spot kick but passed it just wide of the left post.

With fifteen minutes to go in the half, both sides made chances for themselves. The best of the home team's found Pendleton tipping the ball over his cross-bar and Logica's best effort came from a quickly taken Mainwaring free-kick to Hoyland, who touched the ball just wide of both keeper and goal.

Logica made one change at half time, bringing on Andy Devitt for the injured Fleming. This meant changing the midfield around a little. Devitt slipped into central midfield along side Wood, with Reevaldo and Brown moved to their more familiar left and right flanks respectively.

Devitt was straight into the action with a strong challenge in the middle of the park on a Parsons midfielder. This set the mood of the Logica team in the second half - they were clearly more fired up and seemed to want the game more than the opposition, making a refreshing change from Logica's usual style of play.

Logica's pressure finally paid off ten minutes in to the half. A deep corner swung in from the left by the lad Devitt found Manlio Trovato rising unchallenged, and the Italian made no mistake in finding the target with his first goal of the season [1-1].

Parsons Green managed to make a few chances, but Pendleton was again in great form, and his secure handling boosted the confidence of the Logica back four. The Logica keeper was even alive enough to stop a Marsh own goal attempt at his near post.

During one foray into the Logica box, the Parsons big number ten jumped clumsily into Paul Mainwaring, leaving the Logica Captain with bruised ribs. Taylor brought Damien Sutton into the action, and moved Marsh to left back to replace his injured colleague, with the 'versatile' Brown slipping in snuggly at right back.

This set back didn't quench Logica's thirst for the game. Another long throw from Taylor was ineffectually cleared by the Parsons defence, and the ball fell to Devitt with a yard of space in which to turn and bury the ball in the back of the net [2-1]. Logica continued to create chances, with Sutton finding lots of room on the right wing to use his blistering pace. However, the Logica front two were unable to meet the final ball in the box.

Green's best effort of the half found Pendleton pulling off, in this reporter's opinion, the save of the season. A half-cleared ball fell to the Parsons midfielder just outside the box, who hit a vicious bullet destined for just inside the left hand upright. Pendleton dived full length to his right and with his outstretched left hand tipped the ball round the post.

With less than 20 minutes to go the Deputy Supremo opted to bring on Banoub for Hoyland. Noubie's intelligent movement left holes in the Green defence, which Reevaldo and Taylor exploited on a number of occasions.

Parsons Green were clearly not enjoying their Sunday morning outing and began to argue amongst themselves, as is the nature of highly strung professionals on a Sunday morning. A rare Parsons attack found their number nine in the clear and onside, but his first time swivel and shot was closer to threatening the corner flag than the goal. This effort prompted some constructive abuse from his strike partner. The advice did not go down well with the number nine, who ripped of his shirt in disgust, threw it to the ground and stamped on it. He left the pitch with the immortal words, "I may be playing poor today, but you play poor every week"².

Unperturbed Logica continued to dominate the game. Strong battling in the middle of the park found Reevaldo with time to look up and spot Taylor just inside the Parsons half and a neat ball through released the deputy Supremo on goal. The Leeds man cleared the back line with ease and sprinted into the oppositions box to neatly slip the ball past the keeper and into the onion bag [3-1]. This most surely rounded off an excellent morning's work from the Logica side.

POST MATCH ANALYSIS AND QUOTES:
"If Selected..." (IS): "You've got to be pleased with that result?"
Craig Taylor, Deputy Puppet Supremo (CT): "Today's game was one that Logica would normally lose. We did very well today, especially in the second half. The new lad Andy Devitt did very well. I was informed that he was a match winner - and he did just that."
IS: "It looks like Supremoship comes naturally to you. How did you find it?"
CT: "Difficult. I didn't sleep very well before the game, I definitely need a holiday and I'm not too sure what to do with all these Marlboros I was handed in these brown-paper bags. I am looking forward to the Return of the Supremo."

Notes:
¹ Editor's Footballing History Lesson: This once great stadium was the scene of arguably the club's most glorious triumph way back in 1989, when Logica defeated arch-rivals Sarkpoint 2-1 in extra time of the prestigious West End League Memorial Shield Final to clinch a unique league and cup double. One might like to equate the fine old Hurlingham Stadium's decline to that of Wembley, in which case Logica's 1989 Cup win can be thought of as the equivalent of the Matthews Final, with Woolhouse in the role of Sir Stan. Lesson ends.
² Please excuse this reporter's translation of the actual terminology used.