Logica’s increasingly urgent mission to get some wins under their belt seemed about to succeed when a fine performance saw them battle back from an undeserved 2-0 deficit. A second half blitz finally saw good play translated into goals, as strikes from , and gave Logica a 3-2 advantage with just a quarter of an hour remaining. But to their credit Spectraprint came back strongly, and two goals in the space of a minute saw them regain the lead before they added a late fifth as Logica frantically chased the game.

Such a net-bulging climax seemed unlikely during a first half of considered play by both sides, but few chances. Logica were moving the ball around neatly, with at the hub of much of the build-up play, although the first clear-cut chance came from an unlikely source. With (hand) and (flu) both injured, it was who unselfishly volunteered to don the gloves, despite the better claims of , who was much needed in defence. As is his wont, the ageing stand-in gloveman was prowling the edge of his box, enabling him to pounce on a Print through-ball. A thumping clearance perfectly dissected the visiting defence and was on to it in a flash, but as the keeper advanced, the Norwich man poked his effort just the wrong side of the post.

The Logica forward also showed good movement with an angled run that saw him lose his marker to get on the end of a pinpoint free-kick. But 's attempt to lob a first-time volley over the stranded Print keeper’s head didn’t quite come off.

At the other end, Logica’s back four were looking authoritative. One sliding tackle in the box from was sublime, much to the astonishment of the Print forward preparing to pull the trigger who suddenly found himself minus a bullet. On the one occasion that the visitors did break clear, some unorthodox goal-minding from proved effective as he slid out to slice clear a low right-wing cross off the toe of a Spectra striker. He was still laughing at his comedy keeping whilst the striker was retrieving the ball and crossing: a simple catch was fumbled, and was lucky to be able to turn and dive on the loose ball.

But just as it looked as if the interval would arrive goalless, Spectraprint were handed a controversial opener. A precise ball was speared through to the feet of the visiting number ten. And when the raising of four yellow arms failed to be matched by the linesman’s flag, the Print-man was left with a clear run on goal. stayed on his feet and the dithering striker miscontrolled the ball only to see it deflect off his shin and through ’s legs. The keeper got half a hand to the ball, but it squirted behind him leaving the Print man with a simple tap in [0-1].

Worse followed shortly after the restart when some unfortunate defending enabled the visitors to double their lead. The ball was played forward swiftly, but was tightly marking his man, and got in a firm tackle to win the ball. Unfortunately it then got stuck under his feet, and as he desperately tried to clear it was nicked away by the Spectra left-winger who was clear to side-foot past [0-2].

Logica were still playing their football, and the midfield were more than holding their own. was at his elegant best, always available, and jinking and side-stepping his way past opponent after opponent with the balance of a ballerina before regularly releasing and down the channels. was back and in fine fettle, snapping at heels and rarely sending a pass astray, whilst ’s aerial dominance saw him pop up everywhere to flick on a throw or free-kick.

After some neat build-ups had failed to produce an end result, Logica finally grabbed some hope out of nothing. A throw-in on the left from was somehow allowed to bounce into the box, and it was youngster who was most alert, as he jumped to scissor kick the ball at an awkward height deftly just inside the far post [1-2].

The home tails were up, and it was who led from the front, grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck. Having seen one pass half-cleared, he was fed again out on the left-wing. Dancing past a tackle, he looked up before picking out his low cross. still had plenty to do, but stooped sharply to guide a perfect glancing header past the flailing keeper’s dive [2-2].

Logica might have tried to hold on for a point now after such a bold fight-back, but instead they went for the jugular. Again it was who was the architect, skipping away this time down the right flank. burst forward in support, and his demanding call was met with an inviting, hanging cross which enabled the Logica forward to leap high and loop a header over the jumping keeper and under the bar [3-2]. This was the legendary and mercurial at his mesmeric best. The Logica faithful packed into the tiny Stade d'Ilea could forgive the occasional pram-emptying antics. All they cared about was that a true great of the game had come to their club. And they loved him for it.

Two headed goals from crosses, whatever next?! Well some determined defending was called for in actual fact. Spectraprint did not cave in at this reversal, and instead doubled their efforts in search of an equaliser. The back four were stretched but stood firm, and was particularly ruthless. Two further last ditch tackles timed to absolute perfection plus and a succession of crunching challenges turned the Print number ten into a gibbering, whinging wreck.

And debutante substitute , signed from the Clapham Rovers just this week, also looked well worth his huge price tag after replacing . Quick in the tackle, he also showed some calm distribution from the back. He also saved ’s bacon when the erratic number one stood inexplicably rooted to his line as a free kick was curled into his six yard box. A Print foot poked the ball goalwards but had followed in and just managed to flick the ball wide of the post as it bounced goalwards.

But just as home fans in the Stade were starting to work out how far up the table three points would take them, and was just daring to wonder whether his Captain’s curse was about to be broken, Spectra rose from the dead to dash Logica’s hope with a lethal double strike. First the visitors won a corner, which was fired dangerously into the six yard box from where a Print head bulleted home an equaliser [3-3].

Before Logica could decide whether to try and shut up shop for a point, or go all out and push for a winner, Spectraprint were on the attack again. For once, the home defence were pulled out of position, and a sharp pass through the inside right channel released an unmarked forward. As came out to close down the angles for a shot, the Print player astutely rolled the ball across goal and it was gleefully rammed home from close range at the back stick by a colleague [3-4].

At least Logica now had no tactical conundrum, and pressed forward in an attempt to salvage a point as some reward for their morning’s endeavour. The closest they came was when was fed on the left-hand corner of the box, but his clipped drive was gratefully clasped at full stretch by the Print keeper. With the home side pressing desperately, Spectraprint broke quickly down the left, only for another solid tackle seemingly to have cleared the danger. But the resultant throw was taken quickly, and the Logica defenders stood like statues as a Print played gambolled unchallenged into the box before curling a shot around to clinch the points [3-5].

And so a morning’s industry that had promised much with fifteen minutes remaining, ultimately finished yielding nothing. A young Logica team could take some pride from the way they had played, but as the season rumbles on with merely creditable draws and narrow defeats, the early season threat of a promotion challenge is in danger of turning into a struggle for mid-table mediocrity.