The intensive and often decisive Christmas fixture list is primarily an opportunity for hapless defenders to present lazy journalists like us with unmissable opportunities for topical goal-gifting punnery. Never ones to spoil others' fun, Logica duly obliged inside two minutes of their last fixture of 2008.

did extremely well to chase back and win a tackle, before laying the ball back towards a gaggle of defenders. The pass induced a mass attack of terror-struck uncertainty, as each Logica man left it to another. The Bec forward showed no such politeness, and accepted this early Christmas present by racing clear. did well to block the first shot, but the visiting forward reacted fastest to bundle home the rebound [0-1].

Having thus started in their traditionally lethargic fashion, Logica slowly set about getting up to speed. Bec were a good footballing side, who fortunately had a predilection for over-elaboration. Their skipper was also able to hurl the ball Delap-like from the touch-line into the six yard box, but Logica were remarkably strong in repelling this continuous aerial assault. Defenders boldly headed clear, and keeper came out to catch on numerous occasions, mostly being unsubtly barged over in the process.

Bec dominated possession in the first half, but were unable to add to that early goal. Logica mustered some good approach play, which unfortunately usually broke down before the danger area was reached. fired a long range shot after an back-heel, and then returned the compliment with a volleyed cross which elected to take on his chest when a header might have been a better bet.

There was a sense at half time that Bec's defence were vulnerable if only more pressure could be exerted. Unfortunately, before Logica got the chance to put this theory to the test, United were two up after a midfielder fizzed an unstoppable wind-assisted shot past from 20 yards soon after the restart [0-2].

To Logica's credit, the home players stuck to their guns in front of the season's biggest crowd at the Stade. More concerted attacking play did start to stretch the United rearguard, as some time Lag and Tigerish captain came off the bench to add experience, deceptive pace and an aerial threat to the attack. Logica so nearly halved the deficit when a neat attack found a Bec defender desperately spooning a cross skywards. The keeper advanced but got his head to the ball first, only to see his glanced effort scrambled off the line.

But shortly afterwards, Logica and did have their goal. It came from a high punt forwards, and gambled on a misplaced header from the defender. The old man was duly rewarded when the defender headed square straight to him. A quick look up spotted the keeper slightly advanced, and a delicate and vintage lob from 20 yards arced perfectly over the stranded gloveman and dipped under the bar [1-2].

Logica had the unusual scent of points in their nostrils and set about scoring another. was causing continual problems down the right flank with his pace and skill, and and were beginning to dominate possession in the middle of the park. fired an effort just too high after a purposeful run, and a measured cross from the left was desperately glanced just wide of his own post by a defender as came in behind.

But Logica's rally was stopped in its tracks after 75 minutes when Bec added two goals in quick succession. First a neat move was clinically converted [1-3] before a penalty and accompanying yellow card were controversially awarded against for hand-ball when the Logica defender was protecting his face from a high boot. The spot-kick was converted [1-4], and Bec added a fifth in the dying seconds to rub salt into Logica wounds [1-5].

So the year drew to a close with Logica having amassed just a solitary point on the field of play. Three further points that should be accrued from the match award against Crown the previous Sunday will generously keep Logica in touch with those above them, but the level of performance will need to improve throughout the team in 2009 if a second consecutive relegation is to be avoided.