See also the first match of this double header.

Having lost the first leg of this morning's double header against league leaders Southfield Rovers by the fairly emphatic and not particularly misleading margin of 0-4, Logica set about restoring some pride and getting some points on the board. Unfortunately they were still unable to call on the services of fleet footed Lag wide-man Steve Lambert, who generously continued in the role of referee. Accusations that Logica had shot themselves in the foot by this Corinthian foolhardiness were dispelled when it was pointed out that they'd probably miss anyway.

Despite the earlier drubbing, Logica had greatly improved during the last twenty minutes of that game, and they carried their new found confidence into the second match. Like demons they tracked and closed down their opponents, exerting pressure and unsettling some previously serene Rovers with a combination of tenacity and skill. Buck continued to set the trend, and more endeavour in the middle of the park won the ball before he played the most delightful chipped pass into the path of Hoyland who'd peeled off to the right. The striker took the ball on a couple of strides before flashing a low drive just the wrong side of the post. Game on!

Logica knew that they were posing a real threat when the league leaders started to argue amongst themselves, and our gallant heroes desperately tried to convert their dominance into goals. The Rovers were rattled, and some penalty box chaos saw Abbott pounce on a loose ball to poke a left foot shot goalwards only to see it blocked by the considerable frame of the Southfield keeper. Soon a flowing passing move down the right freed Gautam, and he advanced purposefully along the bye-line before pulling the ball back to the marauding Brown. The maverick midfielder turned the ball goalwards only to see a desperate defensive lunge divert the ball for a corner.

Brown was shortly weaving more magic down the flank and found himself in space on the left wing. Looking up, he lofted a perfect cross to the back stick where Abbott was loitering. Taking careful aim, the experienced striker smashed his volley disappointingly wide and another chance was gone. Profligacy at this level is unerringly punished, and so it was shortly before the interval that Southfields broke away to score from their first meaningful attack. Their impressive striker turned on a sixpence near half way and simply opened the throttle to burn away from the helpless Trovato. As Booth came out he followed the text book guidance and stayed on his feet as long as possible, only the see a mis-hit shot bobble through his legs and into the net [0-1].

To their credit, Logica rode this body blow and continued to pound the Rovers goal. Another good build up found Gautam firing too close to the keeper from the edge of the area, whilst a number of corners early in the second half also came to nought. But the best chance of an equaliser again fell to Abbott. When a sustained bout of pressure was only half-cleared, it was Mainwaring who looped in the perfect cross from the left that took out the keeper. The ageing forward was again loitering at the back stick and only had to keep his header down to score from close range. Tragically the jump was not high enough and the header flew over the bar.

Once more punishment was swiftly administered. Brown was studiously tracking his man on the blind side, so much so in fact that he felt confident enough to turn and bellow some inspiring words of encouragement to his team mates. In a flash a cross field pass was whipped in, and the next thing the wandering Wolves man knew was that his markee had miraculously advanced five yards without telling him. Still there was nothing that could be done about the finish, as a blistering volley from fifteen yards sizzled Booth's finger-tips on its way into the top corner [0-2].

But Brown is made of stern stuff, and set about rectifying this unfortunate incident. Logica were soon on the attack again, and a sweeping move saw Reevaldo feed Taylor on the left. His low ball into the box was turned on by Buck. The ball was half blocked by a defender but the ever alert Brown was on hand to fire a curving shot home off the post to score his seasonal goal [1-2].

But Logica hardly had time to digest the fact that they had handed themselves a lifeline before it was ruthlessly taken away once more. As the team pushed men forward in search of an equaliser, Hatton Major suddenly found himself alone with two attackers bearing down on him. The necessary pass was executed, and despite a brave effort from Booth, the half blocked shot rolled cruelly over the line [1-3].

The game was up but even then Logica could have added a second with the last kick of the game as Brown executed a spectacular volley that (not for the first time that morning) flew straight into a relieved keepers arms. After being completely outplayed in the first match, Logica had restored some pride in the second game, but had been let down in front of goal. Leading scorer Abbott in particular should have had a couple of goals that could have seen a different outcome. Rovers finishing by comparison was lethal, and their speedy striker was probably the best player we have come up against this season. Indeed, Southfields are undoubtedly the best team we have faced this season, and if they maintain their premier spot to the end, it will not be unjustified.