It was billed optimistically by the fourth estate as a must-win relegation six-pointer for Logica, and their failure to do so may well yet prove critical come May. Two sides clearly low on confidence, having both being drubbed 8-0 the previous Sunday, served up a spectacle as low on entertainment as it was on quality. Few could dispute that Battersea were the better footballing side, and thus their late winner five minutes from time was certainly no scandalous injustice.

The entire match was a struggle for Logica, but at least their defence performed effectively for the most part, with putting in a good display after an extended absence, along side the seemingly ever-brilliant . continued a challenging debut season by being deployed as the midfield sweeper, but showed his adaptability, intelligence and good positional sense in helping to snuff out the home threat at source.

The main talking points of the first half were one penalty claim for each side in quick succession. First was sent clear, and having pushed the ball past the keeper, stumbled to the ground as he chased it. There appeared little contact from any opponent, the player himself did not appeal, and the referee waved play on. City had a stronger claim minutes later as certainly made contact on a home striker executing an identical manoeuvre. Maybe the referee was conscious of the previous decision, for he chose to keep things even.

offered the few moments of attacking quality exhibited by the bottom side. With the interval beckoning, he collected the ball in his own half, ghosted past two defenders with his deceptive deceleration, before feeding the run of with a visionary reverse pass. Unfortunately for Logica, the City keeper also showed good anticipation, coming out to block the ball just before the Sheffielder could reach it.

The visitors only decent chance of the second half fell to the elaborate hole merchant. Having fed down the right, he ambled into the box to take the cut-back cross after the forward had brilliantly dribbled past the City right-back. But ' stabbed left-foot shot rolled just the wrong side of the post, anti-climatically thudding into bags that pinned the side-netting to terra firma.

By this time, Battersea were down to ten men due to an absence of substitutes and a serious injury. But you'd never have guessed it as they continued to do the bulk of attacking, finding plenty of space in midfield and down the flanks. Morale in the Logica camp sank as their frustrations increased, and the winning goal, although late, was hardly undeserved. It was a strange affair, as a seemingly aimless ball forwards somehow found two City players in acres of space as Logica appealed in vain for offside. For once, in a match bereft of penalty box composure, the Battersea man clinically side-footed past to leave Logica dangerously adrift of the safety zone.