After a promising pair of pre-season friendlies, Logica became the last team to dip their toes into the treacherous Division Two waters as they finally got their campaign under way against the unknown quantity that was Lansdown. Our opponents were new to the league, and even with a win and a defeat under their belts, 's extensive scouting network could provide little in the way of a solid form guide. Words of wisdom prior to kick-off could thus only urge more of the same from last week, with hope that a similar outcome would be forthcoming.

Intent on stamping their authority on the match early doors, Logica dominated the first quarter of an hour. With the Logica midfield giving their opponents no time on the ball, the round thing hardly left the Lansdown half and the visitors were creating space all over the park. The passing was snappy, and this period of pressure culminated with a gilt-edged chance with which Logica should have taken the lead. It was good work from as he retrieved a ball on the left and fired in a dangerous cross that zipped past two defenders. did the hard part by controlling the flashing cross on his chest, but from six yards out in the centre of goal, the striker opted for power and fired straight at the Lansdown keeper, seemingly helpless on his line.

This early domination seemed to convince Logica that victory was inevitable and they took their foot off the pedal. Lansdown began to find time and space in which to build some attacks of their own, and it was not long before they were able to unveil their secret weapon, a long throw launched deep into the penalty area which Logica would struggle to deal with throughout the game. The first of these caused chaos in the Logica box, as the ball ricocheted to an unmarked Lansdown player, also six yards out. Luckily for Logica, he too fired his effort straight at the keeper, briefly able to interrupt a stream of invective aimed at his own defenders to make a vital block.

Logica roused themselves once more and reapplied some pressure. was causing all sorts of problems down the left with his aerial strength and some fine runs into space. Another promising move saw the ball fall to the feet of the left-winger and he unleashed a blistering drive from 20 yards that left the cross-bar twanging in classic cartoon fashion. was at the hub of a great move from the back that ended with the defender firing wide. Even was joining in the fun, galloping down the left wing to pull a pass back to , who quickly slipped a neat ball into the box to the feet of . The experienced striker turned on a sixpence and fired in a low shot that was desperately blocked by a defender at full stretch three yards from the line.

Finally Logica converted their dominance into a goal. Lansdown had been unable to deal with a succession of dangerous corners from either flank by and , with coming closest as he headed one dead-ball just inches too high. But now swung in the perfect corner to the back stick, and it was who rose highest to direct a powerful downwards header to the left of the keeper. The diving number one did well to get a hand to the ball, but he couldn't keep it out of the net [1-0].

Unfortunately for Logica, pulled a calf muscle shortly after scoring, and it was serious enough to trigger his immediate replacement by substitute . It was a testament to his fine play and constant threat that the Lansdown defenders loudly expressed their relief at his departure. Despite this, Logica should have doubled their lead shortly afterwards when curled another delicious corner in from the left. The keeper was beaten by the flight, but the ball pinged against the base of the back stick as the Logica players stood and admired the great man's dead-ball artistry when a little anticipation might have converted the rebound.

But it was taking Logica some time to readjust, and Lansdown took full advantage with an equaliser, although the chance came through a refereeing error. Lansdown defenders seemed in trouble as Logica applied some pressure, and charged down a hurried clearance with his stomach in the centre circle. The ball fell to as Logica found themselves with a 3-on-2 situation, but their progress was halted abruptly by the referee's whistle, the man in black erroneously penalising the ageing striker for hand-ball. The free-kick was lumped long into the box and the Logica defence failed to clear, the ball falling once again to an unmarked Lansdonian six yards out, who this time gave no chance from close range [1-1].

The second half was a far less entertaining affair as both sides tired in the unseasonal sun. added some vim and vigour at left-back but the rest of the Logica team gradually began to look as if that tough pre-season was beginning to take its toll. There was far less running off the ball, and the simplest of passes began to go astray due to fatigue. Lansdown continued to look lively in patches, not least with the help of three half-time substitutes. in particular had his work cut out against a bulldozer of a left-winger, but with the exception of one brave dive at a forward's feet, was only called upon to mop up a number of tame long range efforts, leaving him with ample time to turn the air blue as the short-comings of his team-mates continued to beggar his belief. One Lansdown defender enquired nervously as to whether the Logica number one had a touch of the Tourettes.

The decisive moments of the game came in the final ten minutes, as first Logica were denied a seemingly certain goal, only to pay the ultimate price as Lansdown snuck a late winner. It was who pounced on a rare defensive error as a high kick from bounced all the way through. The Sheffielder bore down on goal and did everything right as he waited until the last moment before lofting the ball upwards over the advancing keeper. But the glove-man had waited a split second longer, and now pulled off a brilliant save as he stuck up a hand at the last moment to foil the Logica man. The loose ball was only cleared as far as , who jinked inside one defender before curling a left foot shot towards the far corner. Once again the keeper pulled off a miraculous save, just managing to tip the ball around the post at full stretch.

With time running out, Lansdown won a throw on the left wing which was again hurled deep into the mixer. The ball cleared at the near post but there, remarkably, was none other than jumping like a centre half with Lansdown's large midfielder and winning the aerial duel. But this was not Logica's day, and the hole merchant's strong header cannoned back off the head of the Lansdown man and looped past a stunned [1-2].

There was just time for one more sortie down the left as and combined near the penalty area. But the latter was unceremoniously and painfully scythed down as he burst clear, and Logica had a free kick in a dangerous position. No surprise to see sprinting forward to give it one last shot in this last chance saloon, and after a nail-biting pause, swung in his kick towards the far post. For a split second the impossible seemed to about to happen as the ball sailed towards the top corner over a helpless Lansdown keeper. But as everyone held their breath, the ball bounced off the bar rather than rippling the net, and before anyone could react to the rebound, the final whistle blew.

Somehow, 's men had conjured defeat from the top hat initially containing a seemingly certain victory. Even ten minutes earlier the Logica players were beginning to get frustrated at the prospect of only taking a point from their opening match. Now they had none.