Report mostly by Craig Taylor

World Cup Pup Supremo, Dr. Jeremy Brown, started his managerial campaign on Sunday morning with a thoroughly deserved 5-0 defeat. In fairness Logica FC's last game of the season was meaningless; no matter what the result Logica's perpetual sixth place in the league was guaranteed. So, with an initially Lagless squad, and many key-players not wanting to do a 'Gerrard' (i.e. miss the World Cup through injury in the last game of the season), only ten players made it to the ground. Thankfully, Herr Brown spotted an eager young face in the throng of the Riverside crowd and Stevie Lambert stepped up to fill the spare pair of size nines.

Brown was beginning his own apprenticeship to Supremodom in preparation for leading the England Pups in this summer's World Cup in Prague. He admitted to being very nervous before his debut in the lead role, especially given recent criticism from certain quarters which had labelled his tactical nous as lapinesque. Brown further confessed that he had been searching for tactical inspiration on the eve of the game, and ended up reading both the FA Coaching Manual and a dog-eared copy of Watership Down cover to cover. And throughout the match he could be seen anxiously bawling instructions at his charges from the bench in the touchline hutch.

Logica started well by winning the coin-toss and elected to play towards the Nettle end, this was probably the only challenge they won in the air all morning. This was due to the incredible strength and height advantage that Prince Of Wales had over Logica, in particular their Emile Heskey-alike (but with a decent touch) in the middle of the park.

Prince of Wales didn't take long to make this ball winning advantage count and straight away Logica were on the back foot. The Logica back four were resolute though, and Wales were confined to pot shots from outside the area, which Nigel Hoyland dealt with easily. The Sheffielder's distribution was equally as adept as his goalkeeping, and one quick throw to Lambert was threaded through for Fazel to scamper after. Nich's pace beat the defender to the ball, but pushed it too close to the on-rushing keeper who gathered cleanly.

Spurred on by this effort, Logica attempted to play a bit of football. One move found Taylor in enough space in midfield to look up and find Phil Rafferty in acres of space on the right. Raffo in turn sent through the ball for Fazel to chase, but this time he wasn't quick enough to beat the defender and as they collided the Logica striker came off the worse. A recurring ankle injury left the newly promoted Pup playing with a limp for the rest of the game.

With part of their strike-force immobilised, and the wide men occupied in the middle of the park, Logica became entrenched in their own half. It was only a matter of time until PoW made their opener. It was their bald no. 9 who finally got the better of Jeff Hatton and was still strong enough to hold off Groomo before powering the ball past Hoyland [0-1].

Logica's best effort of the game came soon after, Lambert with a little space on the left spied Taylor's run through the middle of the park and lofted a neat through ball for the Leeds man to run on to. Taylor touched the ball on in his stride and looked up to see the keeper retreating back to his line in order to spoil a picture book lobbed goal. Having made the decision to strike the ball, Taylor lashed the ball low to the keeper's left which was palmed out for Logica's only corner of the game.

The first half finished 1-0 to Wales and Herr Bruninho was left to deliver some half-time inspiration whilst alternatively twitchily puffing on a fag and rabbiting on about some revolutionary 4-5-1 formation.

With no fresh legs to use the same Logica team trotted out for the final 45, whilst Wales had the luxury of throwing on their own 'big lad up front'. This substitution turned out to be inspired as five minutes into the half, 'Heskey' bulldozed his way through Groomo and Sutton on the left and floated a neat ball to the back post where the sub duly thrashed home the ball on the volley [0-2]. Wales didn't have to wait long for their third either. Again the bald number nine was the scorer as he chipped the ball neatly over the on-rushing Hoyland [0-3].

Logica's chances were few and far between, Sutton and Lambert were unable to break away down either flank. Mainwaring was unable to capitalise on a hopeful punt to the corner flag. Taylor was frustrated not to earn a free-kick as he danced around players at the edge of the box (well, Reevaldo wasn't there, someone had to do it!).

Prince Of Wales finished off the match with two more goals, one an unusual mistake from Hoyland who let a soft header through his legs [0-4], and finally an unlucky ricochet off the on-rushing keeper into the path of an advancing striker [0-5].

So another domestic season was over. It was a disappointing end, but the team should not forgot their achievements over the previous gruelling nine months. Logica's biggest points haul in modern times, a respectable sixth place, and a Cup run that ended in narrow quarter-final defeat is not to be sniffed at. A good squad spirit has seen them compete and contest every game, and they are no longer the occasional rabbits of a few seasons ago. Which brings us to the World Cup, only 40 days and 40 nights away, and Brown has his work cut out if he is to mould his Pups into World-beaters.