There was a sense of déjà vu for Logica this morning as once again the fixture computer threw them an end-of-season match against the Champions-elect, a team who needed just three points to clinch the title. Last season they had faced St.Anselms and, despite putting up a valiant battle, Logica fell 3-2 to a classic Jezario ownie. This time out the champagne corks were again popping after the game, although the margin of Lillington’s victory did scant justice to another spirited Logica display.

The Supremo had put together a reasonably strong thirteen-man squad for a bank holiday weekend, and the red men set about their challenge with much vigour and no little skill. Straight from the kick off, a neat Reevaldo-McWilliam combination worked an opening for Abbott without a Lillington player touching the ball, but the striker’s ambitious twenty-five yard effort was well wide.

Lillington possessed an immensely skilful and strong set of players who were certainly not lacking in confidence. The only blemishes on their league record this season have been two draws, and it is a credit to the other challengers that the title has not been clinched until May. Logica sadly are not one of those challengers, but their players more than matched their lofty opponents. Prepared to play football in midfield, Reevaldo, Clarke, McWilliam and Marsh caused plenty of problems early doors. This pressure won them a number of corners, and from one Abbott flashed a header just over.

An even better chance presented itself five minutes later when Reevaldo pounced on a sloppy Lillington pass. Running at the last defender, the Hackney hole-merchant flicked the ball to the unmarked Banoub on his right, but unfortunately the striker’s shot on the bounce was wide. It was not all going Logica’s way however, for Abbott’s frayed hamstrings somehow contrived to twang simultaneously as he ill-advisedly launched into a ‘full-speed’ sprint.

The ageing striker was still optimistically trying to run this injury off when Lillington took the lead somewhat out of the blue. There seemed little danger when a throw-in found their centre-half some thirty yards out. But, as Abbott hobbled back in a rather pathetically vain attempt to close down his man, the defender let fly with a stunningly accurate volley which fizzed just under the bar despite the endeavours of Hoyland’s finger-tips [0-1]. Clearly a goal was a rarity for this player, who duly sped back the length of the pitch removing his shorts and his shorts en route. One man walking through the park with his two young children was less than impressed at this spontaneous celebration of the beautiful game.

Abbott finally admitted defeat, and his replacement Sutton was immediately in the thick of the action. Chasing a long ball forward, he caused enough problems with his pace to force the last defender into fouling him just a couple of yards outside the box. McWilliam took responsibility for the dead-ball, but the kick was straight at the wall.

At times, the would-be Champions’ confidence bordered on arrogance. There were plenty of attempted nutmegs, and from the second half restart, one of their players immediately tried a shot. It was not too far away, although the ever-alert Hoyland had it well covered. Logica were still giving as good as they got, and after a powerful run past two defenders, McWilliam got in on the act by attempting a visionary forty yard shot that caught the Lill’s keeper well off his line, but sadly flew just wide.

At this stage, Logica were still very much in the hunt, and had a great opportunity to equalise on the hour. McWilliam, who was unbeatable in the air all morning, glanced on a long ball and suddenly Banoub was in the clear. But as the keeper advanced, the Boro man sliced his shot wide and the chance was gone.

Another good move found Sutton poking a first-time shot wide, but the game turned on a second fortuitous goal for Lillington. Their left midfielder did well to worm his way along the bye-line, but his low cross should have been simple to clear. Tragically Hatton caught his studs in a bobble as he attempted to turn, and ended up sat on his arse. The forward couldn’t believe his luck, and gleefully rifled home the loose ball from eight yards [0-2].

There was no luck attached to the Champions’ third goal which followed shortly after. Their dangerous striker advanced with purpose, cut inside, and fired a thunderous low shot wide of Hoyland which had the net billowing in appreciation [0-3]. After holding their own for so long, this double whammy caused heads to drop briefly, and a sloppy fourth goal was given away. Hoyland probably could have picked up a loose ball on the bye-line, but unsure, he elected to kick away. Unfortunately, he scuffed the clearance, and once more Lillington punished a Logica mistake with a clinical finish [0-4].

Logica, to their credit, picked themselves up and endeavoured to add some consolation to the unjust scoreline. McWilliam and Reevaldo both worked shooting positions for themselves, but both fired wide. Then the Hackney Hack found himself in a better position with ten minutes left, but could only shoot straight at the keeper from twelve yards.

Cruelly, Lillington crowned themselves as Champions with a fifth goal which once again was less than satisfactory in the way it was conceded. A long up-and-under from their own half seemed to have caught at least two forwards offside. Unfortunately, just at this moment linesman Groom was busy battling a stiff breeze in his attempt to light a fag, and turned only in time to see four expectant arms raised as one of the Lills calmly lobbed the ball over a stranded Hoyland [0-5].

There was still time for one further Logica effort, and yet again it was the product of a fine passing move. Sutton was played in down the right, and whipped in a good cross from the bye-line. Banoub glanced on with his head, and the ball fell awkwardly for Reevaldo, who never the less unleashed a blistering left-foot volley which flew the wrong side of the bar. Tough on the hole-meister, whose impressive all-round performance (he even won a full-blooded 50-50 tackle!) deserved a goal.

Indeed, Logica’s all-round team performance merited at least one goal, and the final score was a grossly unfair reflection of the morning’s encounter. Perhaps the Lillington players felt so too, for the final whistle that confirmed them as Champions was heralded with no great celebrations. Lillington are clearly a very talented and powerful side, who are likely to be promoted up a couple of divisions, but Logica gave them a good game today - a view that was graciously confirmed by the Lillington skipper afterwards in the changing room. “One of the better teams we have played,” was his opinion, which at least provided some consolation to take into Logica’s last game of the season next Sunday against Prince of Wales.