[Double header match: see report of the second match.]

The combination of an obese division, torrential rain, an overly protective Stade groundsman and bad luck with Cup clashes had seen Logica manage to play just five Division Two games before Christmas. We had been fortunate to be awarded the matches against Old Sergeant and Spectra, but it is a pretty sad state of affairs when a club is playing double-headers in January.

So it was that Logica faced high-flying Charing Cross in two one-hour matches at a wind-swept and fairly bleak Riverside Lands Stadium. had assembled a squad of 17 to undertake this marathon, but by kick-off time that had already been whittled down to 14, most notably himself falling victim to the latest flu epidemic. Even then, that 14 included , laid low with flu all week and not good for much more than flag-waving from the sidelines, and , who was uncertain as to how last week's knee injury would bear up.

It was a pity that we had not been allocated our Bragancan pedant as referee. Instead our mild-mannered man in black, who had been notified of a 10am kick-off, patiently waited until 10:45 for the first match to kick-off after Charing Cross had eventually ambled out of the dressing room. Whilst we were waiting to get going, said pedant duly sprinted past our pitch in search of his unfortunate victims, one Logica wag calling out "You're not late, are you ref?"

When the first game finally kicked off, it was Logica who looked like they had rushed onto the pitch at the last moment in a disorganised fashion. Charing Cross carved out three or four clear chances in the opening ten minutes without too much difficulty, and it was only some wayward finishing and a brave block by that kept the game goalless.

Eventually Logica got into their stride and started to put some pressure on a less than convincing Charing defence. was proving a slippery customer on his Logica debut, prompting attacks with some neat passing as well as getting stuck into the midfield battle. was unlucky after chasing down a long ball and battling past the tall centre half only to be bundled over by a flailing keeper. Minutes later, the striker was again unnerving the Cross rearguard, and a desperate clearance fell only to who was extremely unfortunate to see a well-hit first-time shot somehow parried by the keeper.

The interval saw Puppet Supremo opt to employ all three of his subs for the much shortened game. Against the wind though, Logica found themselves very much on the back foot, but when Charing Cross did the take the lead, it was in very controversial circumstances. As the Charing right-winger tried to wriggle along the bye-line, the ball clearly went over the line, and linesman flagged immediately. Logica players waited for a decision that never came, and the resultant Cross cross and was easily converted at the near stick [0-1]. Amidst furious complaints from Logica players, the referee, who had been at least ten yards outside the penalty area, explained that he was over-ruling the linesman.

Worse followed shortly afterwards when fell awkwardly and aggravated his injury from the previous week. After intensive treatment on the sidelines it was clear that he could not continue, and Logica were down to ten men playing into an increasingly strong wind. dropped into the centre of defence and Logica battled gamely, but Charing pressure finally paid dividends as they added a late second goal [0-2].

Logica carved out two chances late on. First deftly glanced on a cross into the path of the unmarked . The substitute let fly first time, and was unfortunate to see his well-hit strike fly the wrong side of the far post. Logica came even closer to a consolation goal in the dying seconds when was released by a visionary pass from . The aging striker cut inside one defender and unleashed a trademark curly shot that flew a single inch wide of the far post with the keeper helplessly rooted to the spot.

But the final whistle signalled defeat for Logica, and there was more bad news when substitute announced he had tweaked a hamstring, and he too would be able to play no part in the second match of the morning.