For the second week running, some negligence at the very start and very end of the match cost Logica dear. But in between times, Logica scored the two best goals of the game without reply, and played with a combination of skill and combativeness that surely bodes well for the future of this new look side.

In this new division, Logica have little in the way of a form guide, and the slippery Eels concocted a cunning plan to throw Logica off the scent. By kick-off time they had amassed just six players, and the home side's warm-up manoeuvres became increasingly relaxed as the minutes ticked by. As the 9:50am deadline approached, three more Rangers just managed to find their way to the pitch, although there were rumours of more on the way.

The match thus kicked off with Logica facing just nine men, having quickly attained a high state of complacency which was to be very sharply and rudely punctured within a minute. The ball was played back to whose no-nonsense instincts to lump it were thrown off balance by a call to pass the ball further back to keeper . As the centre half was in the process of changing his mind, the ball was nicked off his toe and clinically fired home [0-1].

At least when Logica conceded a second goal three minutes later, they could at least point to the fact that they were now facing ten men. More dawdling in the rearguard enabled Rangers to again slip through the home defences, and as a seething advanced to confront the danger, the ball was simply squared for another blue shirt to tap into an empty goal [0-2]. The Eels now magicked two further players out of a hat, including a substitute, and Logica were completely bamboozed. Further pressure minutes later won a corner, and although punched clear, one of three unmarked Rangers on the edge of the box struck home through the crowd [0-3].

Oh dear. The game was barely ten minutes old and Logica already trailed by three goals to nil to a team that had initially been viewed as numerically deficient cannon fodder. It was the kind of nightmarish scenario that even Juande Ramos or your average Toon fan would struggle to contemplate. Worse still, left-back had succumbed to groin-knack between goals two and three, providing an opportunity for Logica's sixth debutante of the season to make his bow earlier than planned. However, this did not prove disastrous, for went on to have a very effective game in his first Sunday morning outing.

It was the midfield who inspired Logica's fight-back. in particular was everywhere, battling bravely and contesting possession at every turn. Suddenly Logica were competing, playing once again at normal speed, and and also began to earn a little space in which to add some quality.

had been picked this week at right-midfield (giving a stay of execution to the amusing 'all-rounder' jests) and for the second Sunday running drew much admiration for a formidable display. He contributed his fair share of bite to an impressive midfield quartet, and on one occasion embarked on a dazzling and shimmying dribble that saw him beat three opponents and cross from the bye-line, bringing back misty-eyed images of in his pomp. What a bonus for the club management to have a player who can by deployed with confidence in two separate positions!

The gritty Logicians slowly clawed their way back into the fray. , and had all fired efforts wide (the first of these deflected wide by an inadvertent Ranger hand) before the home team gave themselves some tangible hope with a goal just before the interval. Logica won a free-kick just inside the opposition's half, and was thinking quickly to play the ball short to . The midfielder used dummy options right and left to glide past one challenge before firing the ball unerringly low just inside the far post from the edge of the box [1-3].

It was a fine goal indeed, and instilled the players with genuine belief, rather than just hurt pride, for the second half. Logica took the match to a strong Eel Brook team, unfazed by the 1960's Italian shirts that shouted "catenaccio" but which in fact still posed an attacking threat. One blistering volley from 15 yards just cleared 's bar, but it was in fact the tasteful 1990's canary yellow shirts which were creating the majority of the chances. nearly repeated the dose, dancing free but not quite catching his shot as he would have wished. Soon was threading a pass to in the box, but the striker's angled shot was bravely palmed wide of the post by the Eel Brook keeper.

Logica did finally get their second goal, however, and some goal it was too. Some neat interchanges in midfield saw played away down the left, and he burst clear to gain a yard on his marker whilst sneaking a look into the box. There was only to be seen, gambolling in at the back, and plenty of defenders in between. No matter, for 's cross was perfect, arrowed low and hard behind all three defenders but also out of the keeper's reach. duly slid in at the back stick, catching the ball hard and true to send it zipping into the net [2-3].

Logica's tails were up and they strove for the equaliser that they felt was in their grasp. added some fresh legs and neat passing on the left flank, whilst and continued their ceaseless endeavour in the middle. and switched places, and the Rangers hung on. With full time approaching, Logica created their chance. Pressure earned a free kick and delivered it with inch-perfect precision: had escaped his marker, but from the penalty spot his glancing header flew just wide.

It was not long before the referee was indicating just thirty seconds left on the clock, but rather than one last home assault, it only provided time for Rangers to sneak a fourth. This time it was caught in two minds at the back, and Eel Brook's substitute stole in to bundle the ball past and clinch the points [2-4].

Logica's brave fight back had seemed destined to earn a point but had instead been thwarted at the death, and the team were distraught. Football is sometimes a cruel mistress, and hopefully some tough lessons had been learned: never underestimate nine men, and don't arse about at the back!