The new Supremi are quickly getting an appreciation of the size of the task that faces them. In their second game of the season, Logica once again produced an impressive first half display, responding to an early Welham strike with two well taken goals that gave them an interval lead. But it was well and truly Groundhog Day as Logica again conceded two quick goals in a slow start to the second half, and the resultant loss of defensive confidence allowed Welham to go on and bag a hatful to win by a country mile. This is not quite the kind of consistency the joint gaffers would have been after.

The back four boasted just one starter from the first game last Sunday. unavailability meant that the selectors were thus forced to change 80% of the back line, a wholesale revamp that was clearly not going to help cement defensive organisation and understanding. made his debut in the centre alongside midfielder , and the pair proved effective before the interval, with Bessant making a number of timely interceptions.

There was little anyone could do about the finish for the home side’s opener, as a corner pinged beyond the back stick was volleyed home unstoppably [0-1]. But Logica had failed to pick up the man lurking at the back of the box, a repeated failing for which they would be again be punished later, as indeed they had been last week.

Welham’s lead culminated a period of early dominance for the home team, but it also woke the visitors from a lethargic start. Led by , playing the anchor role in the midfield diamond, more pressure was bought to bear when the opposition had the ball, and Logica started to win back possession, and do more with it.

A very nice equaliser was a case in point. pounced on a loose Welham pass played under pressure, and from the centre circle immediately picked out an alert run from , caressing a perfect pass between two defenders. The veteran striker glided inside the last defender before clipping a left-foot shot wide of the on-rushing keeper and just inside the right-hand post [1-1].

Logica were enjoying their best period of the game, and was unlucky to be flagged offside as another flowing move saw square the ball to him from the right. A second goal soon arrived in less sophisticated style. A long goal-kick from was hoisted Route One. jumped but did not get a touch, and the ball bounced over the two Welham centre halves. was on to it in a flash, holding off a desperate challenge from behind and keeping his cool to neatly loft the ball over the exposed Welham keeper [2-1].

Predictably, the interval was filled with urgings to avoid the mistakes of last week when two quick goals from the opposition triggered a second half avalanche. But within a minute of the restart, a low ball into the inside right channel found the Logica defence flat-footed, and a Welham forward slid in smartly to turn the ball past keeper [2-2]. Worse followed when a long throw was allowed to bounce over everyone into the six yard box, from where it was again bundled into the Logica net [2-3].

Logica again promised a telling response. A period of pressure saw carve out the best chance with a neat reverse ball to set away down the right. But the Welham keeper just managed to claw the Logica striker’s effort behind for a corner, and within minutes the home side had doubled their lead with a fine four-pass move from within their own half that was clinically finished from 20 yards [2-4].

Welham’s number five had looked impressive in the middle of the park, although the terrier-like had made life difficult for him with some persistent tackling. But when was substituted midway through the second half, the excellent Welham player was freed of his shackles. The result was four more goals for the home side [2-8], including two scored by unmarked players from corners. The Logica coaching staff will surely be studying the video footage and urgently devising remedies for this glaring Achilles heel.

Logica still sporadically put together some promising moves, and did earn themselves a consolation goal in the dying seconds. A foul throw by Welham led to confusion as the referee initially threatened to award a free-kick. But having correctly changed his decision to a Logica throw, the visitors caught their complaining opponents on the hop. The ball was moved quickly from to , who in turn slipped it on to . provided a further option in this long chain, but instead wisely opted to simply and lethally fire just inside the right-hand post from 15 yards [3-8]. Welham continued their complaints, with one player irking the referee sufficiently into showing him the yellow card both before and after the final whistle, and thus seeing red in more ways than one.

This late strike still left Logica with a stark margin of defeat. and will take some consolation from the scoring of three goals, with their chosen strike-pairing both now showing a return of two goals in two games. On the other hand, they would be looking to win a game in which Logica scored three times, and certainly not to lose it by five! Next week’s match against Old Sergeant, whom Logica demolished 5-2 on the final Sunday of last season, now looks crucial in determining the shape of this new campaign. A third defeat, and morale might take an unrecoverable dent; a convincing victory and the season will be back up and running.