Logica's season stubbornly continued to follow the trajectory of a yo-yo as they fell 3-1 to newly promoted West Six at the Stade on Sunday. Hopes were high after the impressive display against Welham that the club could set in motion a roll of league wins that would build up some promotion-challenging momentum. Instead each victory is steadfastly followed by defeat, whilst each loss in turn perplexingly triggers an impressive win. Not quite the kind of consistency was aiming for at the start of the campaign.

There are some consistent trends, however, that provide grounds for optimism, albeit a tad shaky. The margin of defeat has reduced by three goals in each successive defeat, whilst the margin of victory is doubling in every other game. Perhaps we are following some pre-ordained sine curve that tends towards a constancy that will see us draw our last eight games 2-2.

A more curious pattern is that we have lost all our home games whilst winning all our away games. This may be more than a statistical quirk. Probably not caused by the high expectancy and resultant pressure of the Logica fans packed into the Stade (another bumper crowd for this game), but more likely to do with the better footballing sides - and Broadway, Red Star and West Six would all come into that category - positively revelling in the beautiful bowling green surfaces produced by the Stade d'Ilea's world class groundsman. A West Six player confirmed this suspicion at the post-match press conference, saying he'd love to play on these pitches every week, whilst wryly observed that Logica might do better if they had a potato field to call home.

The match itself was a curious one. West Six were undeniably deserved winners, but whilst Logica struggled frustratingly to recapture their brilliant form of the previous week, they still carved out the better chances in equal, if not greater, number. And whilst the score remained 0-1 well into the final quarter, many in the Stade sensed that Logica could get the goal that would turn the match around.

All this was especially true in the first half. Six proved more effective in the physical battle than Welham had, and won much of the contested possession. They pinged the ball about with impressive accuracy. But other than the goal, was only called upon to make one save of note when he bravely and brilliantly dived at the feet of a freed forward and claimed the ball cleanly.

The goal indeed came somewhat out of the blue. Logica had seemed to have recovered from an uncertain start and were attacking with increasing frequency when a promising move broke down deep in West territory. The counter-attack was lightning quick, and somehow a Six striker was quickly in the clear, cutting back inside and slipping a shot underneath [0-1].

In contrast, Logica's patchy play had yielded at least four presentable chances. As early as the third minute, a late run by found the in-form midfielder meeting a long throw by unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, but the diffuclt half-volley was scooped too high. A similar close-range chance fell to after a corner ran loose. The ageing striker swivelled quickly in the six yard box but again clipped the bouncing ball over the bar from a tight angle.

The same player nearly made amends midway through the half when he cushioned a well-directed header on the thigh, and from the corner of the box flashed a powerful left-foot volley just inches too high. As the interval approached, a rare sequence of neat passes sent clear, but despite cutting back inside the last defender, the Six keeper had advanced smartly and was able to smother the Yorkshireman's shot.

The second half saw the visitors apply more concerted pressure and Logica were penned in their own half for 15 minutes or more. was in inspired form, however, and athletically tipped three dangerous long range efforts around the post, the last opportunity arising from a suicidal back-heel attempted by the ever-elaborate on the edge of his own box. But the Logica keeper's best save was less orthodox, as he deflected a point-blank header from a corner onto the bar with his face before the rebound was somehow bundled clear.

Having weathered the storm, Logica reasserted themselves. Another dangerous corner found the West keeper flapping, and stooped only to see his effort cannon back off the bar. The rebound wouldn't come down quick enough for whose snatched close range effort was once again too high. The striker was a little more unlucky when he did well to keep the ball in play on the right touchline, only to see his threaded pass forwards skid off the greasy surface just beyond the fine run of his strike partner .

could count himself extremely unfortunate to have been replaced at the interval after an industrious and effective first 45, but his replacement - the enigmatic - put in another entertaining display that combined hard work with some moments of magic. The came closest to equalising when he unleashed a blistering left foot volley from fully 25 yards that seemed destined for the top corner. Somehow, though, the Six keeper extended himself a few extra inches in mid-flight and finger-tipped the ball over the bar.

This proved to be the turning point of the game. In their next attack, the West Six right-winger was given time and space on the touchline to deliver a pin-point cross that was headed home clinically from 8 yards [0-2]. Within minutes, the game was all but up. Pushing forward to salvage the game, Logica were caught short at the back, and a roving Six striker rounded before his ball across the face of goal was turned home by a gleeful team-mate [0-3].

To their credit, Logica didn't give up and gamely went in pursuit of some consolation in the last ten minutes. A neat break saw lift a perfect cross to the unmarked at the back stick, but despite some elegant chest control, the substitute screwed his half-volleyed shot wide. Shortly afterwards, a half-cleared ball was pounced on by , but although his well-placed shot beat the keeper, it was headed off the line by a Six defender.

Finally the home side did get some reward, however, and it was prompted by the brilliant who had been at the heart of much of Logica's better moves. His visionary lofted pass from the centre circle picked out a great run from , who showed strength and determination to get to the pass before the keeper, and great technique to fire home the bouncing ball past a defender on the line [1-3].

The over-riding emotion on the final whistle was one of disappointment, mainly that the Logica players had not done themselves justice given the excellent display seven days ago. They had played well in patches, but West Six had proved more hungry in the tackle whilst Logica's final pass could have been more accurate at critical moments.

After the match, it was generally agreed that 's side had greatly missed the extra creativity and quality of delivery provided the previous week by . Returning to our opening statistical observations, it is perhaps no coincidence that Logica have proved victorious each time the Walsall Wizard has put in an appearance this season. The only mathematical conclusion that can be drawn therefore is that he must accept 100% responsibility for this defeat due to his somewhat selfish lack of availability. We can only hope he is a little more considerate next Sunday.