Match Report by the .

It was a bit too nippy for the Fourth Estate to rouse themselves for this match, but luckily we found the following notes scribbled on the back of a fag packet thrown away in the Logica dugout.

First off, the match should never have happened. The pitch was frozen solid and was an injury nightmare waiting to happen. We kicked off 20 minutes late to give the sun time to burn off the frost! It did burn off the frost but didn't unfreeze the pitch any.

So to the game itself. For once we were out of the blocks from the start, contesting every tackle, chasing down, marking, winning a large percentage of the aerial balls. Both and were dominating at centre half. and were both proving effective at full back, getting forward to help the midfield when the opportunity arose. We were proving worthy opposition for once and Crown were starting noticeably to get frustrated after expecting an easy ride.

A momentary lapse of concentration however saw us go one down. Their effective and tricky right winger found an inch of space to fire over a cross which dropped for their forward, who controlled and hammered it low into the bottom corner of the net on the turn [0-1].

was dominating his area, catching a succession of corners and off his line to clear when required. If anything, this galvanised Logica into playing a calmer game, and within a minute of the restart, was put through by . But after controlling superbly, he slipped a bit and his shot was easily saved by the grateful net man.

Logica continued in the same vein as released , but his poked shot under the body of the onrushing keeper went narrowly wide of the post. Logica weren’t to be denied however as collected in midfield, turned and played an offside-beating in behind the Crown defence. They could only watch as lashed it lethally into the corner of the net [1-1].

Crown were visibly disturbed by all this, and started to exert some pressure of their own. A long pass found their right winger, required Logica keeper to bravely beat him to the ball, but he got crunched at the same time. Fortunately Crown were unable to take advantage of a prone gloveman and Logica cleared so that could receive treatment. Just before the half ended, saw glory but his chip was off target.

All in all, it had been a very impressive half of football from the Canaries. Suitably fired up, they began the second in the same vein, biting and flying into every challenge and it wasn't long before Crown began complaining of the physical nature of Logica's game. Everyone in the midfield were running their socks off, whilst the movement of and up front was giving the Crown defence plenty to ponder. Bennett continued to marshal the Logica defence like a Hatton of old, and the home side were limited to long shots and free kicks.

If hadn’t been for a series of very dubious offsides, and would have put the game beyond doubt. One in particular saw Logica win the ball back, and was fed by . got to the byline pulled the ball back for to lash home but he was apparently off-side when had been released.

Then the inevitable happened right at the death. Logica had a series of chances to clear the ball but it ricocheted to the Crown striker. Onside, he crossed to the far post for a last minute tap-in [1-2]. The celebration seemed to indicate that Crown thought they'd won the FA Cup. Logica still mustered one last chance in the remaining seconds, as from the kick-off was played in again to fire home from 20 yards. But - surprise, surprise - he was adjudged to be off-side yet again.

A disappointing end to a game that Logica deserved to at least draw, and should really have won comfortably. Still spirits were visibly lifted, and all the talk was of bringing on Eel Brook next Sunday.

Note: The reported Match Award to Logica against Crown on 14th December was retracted when Crown paid their outstanding fines before the scheduled fixture date. The match will now be rearranged for later in the season.