Logica’s metronomic form continued unabated despite both a good performance at the Riverside Stadium and shrewd ploy to break the run of alternate victories and defeats. Whilst there will be no let up in the sacrifices proffered to the Football Gods to free us from the oscillating destiny to which we seem to have been inadvertently handcuffed, the Logica players really have only themselves to blame this week after they missed a string of good chances that should have maintained their 100% record of away victories against newly promoted Kew Green.

We can at least eliminate a number of the superstitions previously lined up as suspects in the case of the inexplicable yo-yo form. As noted, the theory that the pressure of home support at the Stade was contributing to significantly better away form has gone by the wayside. Also in tatters is the alternate-Sunday hypothesis, and ’s ingenious solution to simply take a week off to escape the cycle. Some of the more left-field suggestions have also bitten the dust, not least the one advocated on these pages that the 100% correlation between victory and an appearance by was statistically significant. In hindsight, we hold our hands up and admit the folly of such far-fetched straw clutching.

This leaves us with superstitious scapegoats in short supply, and we may simply have to accept the unpalatable truth that Logica FC are fast approaching the absolute pinnacle of consistency as far as inconsistency goes. Perhaps we may become a trivia footnote to footballing history: which team boasts the record for the longest ever alternate win-lose sequence?

In contrast, all had been hope and optimism early on this first Sunday of the season to exhibit the kind of wintry conditions we all secretly crave – horizontal rain, swirling wind and single figure temperatures. The news that our Algerian World Cup keeper Chico had overslept was tempered by the late additions of both and to the originally announced squad. Ever the perceptive man motivator, offered (newly returned from a serious back injury) the choice between shirts numbered 1 or 12, and feigned pleasant surprise when the talented Italian libero uncomplainingly plumped for the gloves rather than a seat on the bench, in the process becoming our fourth keeper in seven games.

Kew Green had achieved an impressive League and Cup double in their first Sportsmans League season, romping away with the Division Four title without losing a game, and then adding the prestigious Bert Gaby Challenge Cup to their newly built trophy cabinet with a 1-0 win over Clapham Rovers in the Final. Unusually, there are a number of loose connections between the two sides, although obviously not related to the accumulation of silverware. As well as both clubs boasting impressive web-sites, Green’s number 11 played three games for us as a Logica graduate back in the 1999-00 season, whilst their captain Steve Jenner works with Lag Legend .

If Kew had acquired any inside information via any of these channels, they could only have been surprised to find us ultimately doing a passable impression of a half-decent side. But Logica started slowly as is their wont, and the reigning Division Four champions showed their strengths as they enjoyed the best of the play early doors. Kew’s most striking characteristic was their aerial power, and Gallagher in particular won everything in the air up front which had the visitors struggling to defend set-pieces and throw-ins.

Green fired a couple of long range efforts wide, but some panicked clearances apart, had few saves of note to make as Logica felt their way into the game. Gradually the passing began to click, and the yellow shirts applied more pressure. dusted off his ploy of standing 10 yards behind the opponents back line from a goal kick, and duly obliged with a long dead ball which a defender could only glance backwards. But having collected the ball, the striker’s squared ball towards was hoiked away for a corner.

Typically, just as Logica were getting into the swing of things, they gifted their opponents the lead. A promising attack broke down on the half-way line as and (who had an otherwise excellent game in an unaccustomed right-back role) got in each other’s way. The loose ball was picked up by a Green midfielder who punished the error ruthlessly with a pinpoint ball that dissected Logica’s rearguard. A Kew striker was clear, and although bravely blocked the first attempt, the rebound was smashed into the unguarded net to give the home side the lead [1-0].

Logica continued to try and play their passing game, and despite Kew’s obvious defensive strength, chances were created with increasing regularity. and were starting to dominate the middle of the park, and it was the who embarked on a characteristic dribble past three opponents only to be foiled by the last defender sliding in to clear for a corner. The dead-ball was beautifully delivered by himself to the back stick, with rising highest but heading just wide of the angle of bar and post. tried his luck from distance, but the Kew keeper saved relatively comfortably just under the bar. was beginning to probe on the left, whilst on the other flank the was revelling in only his second start of the season, a combination of persistence and skill earning a couple of further corners.

The two best moves of the half created chances that Logica really should have converted. began a move that saw the ball moved quickly to , whose vision enabled him to pick out the striker continuing his run into the box. With a few yards of space, ’s poor first touch pushed the ball too far forwards, enabling a defender to scramble the ball away for another corner before the trigger could be pulled. The ageing forward nearly made amends when he drifted out to the left touchline to receive a pass from . Holding the ball up, then released a brilliant reverse pass that took out three defenders and found the marauding on the edge of the box with just the keeper to beat. But again, on the greasy surface, the midfielder’s first touch saw the ball skid away and the keeper was relieved to pounce on the ball.

Kew emerged from the interval in more determined mood, and immediately produced a dangerous attack down the right, with just managing to do enough with his last-ditch tackle to force the striker to put his shot wide. Green continued to threaten in the air, and a series of corners found Logica defending in some discomfort, the home side coming closest with a header that flew just over the bar.

Logica fought back in search of an equaliser. freed in the inside left channel with another nice pass, but the Sheffielder’s cross was just inches too high for the leaping who had made a great run into the box from deep. The same trio carved out an even better chance shortly afterwards. again slipped a pass forwards to release his strike partner on the right, tempting the Kew keeper from his line. got there first, was forced away from goal, but laid a ball back to the supporting . The cunning dummied his marker to cut inside and unselfishly square to . With the keeper still fruitlessly chasing the ball like an enthusiastic Jack Russell, three defenders had retreated to the goal-line to cover, but would still have been disappointed not to finish from 15 yards instead of sending one of his trademark curly things too high over the left-hand corner of the goal.

Logica continued to play some controlled passing football with the end product conspicuous by its absence. again personified this frustrating lack of a cutting edge when he executed a sublime Cruyff-turn near the left bye-line only to spoon his cross straight into Row Z. Such profligacy was always likely to be punished, and Kew finally converted one of their corners with 15 minutes remaining when a neat glancing header from six yards gave no chance whatsoever [0-2].

Ironically, just as the game seemed up, Logica bounced back immediately to return the deficit to just one goal within 60 seconds. The approach was again neat with at the hub of some good passing, although the move seemed to have broken down. But the loose ball rebounded off into the path of , and the impressive midfielder wasted no time in firing a low shot just inside the right-hand post from the edge of the box [1-2].

The climax to the game was tense, with Logica pressing desperately for a second goal whilst Kew tried to pick off the killer goal on the break. The home side looked to have done just that when their striker got in behind the Logica backline, and flicked the ball past across goal. As another Kew player closed in at the back stick, appeared miraculously from nowhere to slide the ball out for a corner with a brilliant saving tackle. At the other end won a header from a corner, but the ball was hacked away by a defender just in front of the goal-line.

As the clock ticked down, Logica piled everyone forward and centre-half found himself collecting the ball on the left wing. Ghosting past one defender as if he did this kind of thing every week, he fired in a dangerous cross behind the line of defenders. launched himself at the ball, but just couldn’t quite get enough contact, and the glancing header flashed across goal and away to safety.

Time was nearly up when Kew again exploited Logica’s lack of numbers at the back, playing their forward clear. As the Kew man set himself to stroke the ball past the exposed , came sliding in with a desperate attempt to save a certain goal. Unfortunately his timing was a fraction out, and the Kew striker was unceremoniously upended. Remarkably, referee Reynolds kept his cards close to his chest and the was spared further disciplinary expense.

The free-kick came to nothing but Logica’s time was up and the final whistle seconds later signalled that ’s charges had failed once more to break the win-lose sequence that now runs to seven games. Kew had shown themselves to be a good side, strong at the back, with enough threat up front - particularly in the air - to cause problems all morning. But Logica had turned in one of their better showings, and the air in the visiting dressing room afterwards hung heavily with the disappointment of missed chances, both in front of goal, and to secure three points that would have kept Logica in touch with the front runners.

Note: You should also be able to read the other side of the story shortly at Kew Green's website.