Macc `C contrived to lose their unbeaten record despite a stunning win by Tony Lane on top board. The Macc lads continued their tour round the M60 orbital with a match against Altrincham. Although Macc C were out-graded on every board, there wasn’t a lot in it and I expected a close contest. Tony was first to finish with a quality victory over Sheraz using a sharp line of the Kings Gambit. Tony was ahem surprised to learn of his opponent`s grade. Well done Tony and it seems that Macc C finally have a solution to their top board woes (LOL). Board 2 and Man with Hat plays a sound opening but then fails to play a must play move and ends up struggling. I spend 10 minutes contemplating the unthinkable before playing the obvious. Grimly holding on to a ½ point the self- inflicted damage to my clock tipped me over and a blunder ensued. Well played Tom for a well- executed finish and its 1-1. You know how it is, you have all the moves ready and in the correct order then you go ALTERING `EM (A despairing shaking of the head from Mrs Hat). Board 3 and Marc resumes hostilities with old adversary Bill. Marc stormed through the middle but then diverted his attack to the relief of his opponent. Marc had beaten Bill in April 2016 to help lift the Division 3 title on an unforgettable night at Morton Hall. That was then and this is now and Macc are 1-2 down. The rapidly improving John A leveled the scores and I make that 4/4 in the Stockport league. John, I`m watching! All eyes on board 5 and the baying mob are treated to their pound of flesh. Our Tom v Alty`s Jeff and its 2-2 and a draw all day long. Rook + 4 plays Rook + 4. If anyone was going to win then Tom had a passed pawn but Tom swapped the Rooks off losing the passed pawn for no return plus the game and the match, Ouch! We’ve all been there Tom and as for Man with Hat, these are dark hours and the hardest thing is knowing i`ll survive. Two more games before Xmas gives us a great opportunity to bounce back. Afterall, its only a game (A further shaking of the head from Mrs Hat).Well played Altrincham and thanks for the hospitality, friendly as ever.
Pack yer bags, fill up with petrol, we’re going on a tour of the M60! So the Macc C lads are on the road again and the first stop is Urmston. A new venue for Man with Hat and a good one, good enough for ½ of a Chorlton team to come wandering in part way through (answers on a postcard)! Pete C on board 2 had a solid defensive structure that induced a draw offer from John R the ECF silver rep. and after further consideration this was eventually accepted. A good ½ to start with. The remaining 4 players looked OK but the strongest position belonged to Tom and a win over the affable Jim B beckoned. I wasn’t reading Board 1 very well and Macc’s Tony B succumbed to Jordi B. 1 ½ each and I now know how the night, if not the score, is going to end. Marc wasn’t at his best and having smashed his opponents’ defences open at a cost he overreached leaving Dave B to skilfully tidy up. Now the 2 captains, MWH and Tim P were locked horns to decide the outcome of the match. Avid readers of this blog will have noticed a certain lethargy of late due to a stressful year or two with solicitors (ssshhh, if they hear they will charge)! However, a Superhero returns, another alter ego and a Captain Fantastic proceeds to win the full point and a ½ point for his team. Mrs Hat stays up to welcome home her other half but declines to listen to the details. Still unbeaten and onwards we march.
Well played Urmston and we look forward to seeing you for the return in the New Year.
The Macc Lads arrived in good time for this tricky cup fixture at Stockport's lush venue. £5 for a pint of Peroni ! Were we in London? Perhaps Man with Hat needs to get out more often! (A trademark rolling of the eyes from Mrs Hat). This was an evenly matched tie and possibly a chance to knock out the holders and winners of the last 3 years (since our glorious victory in 2015 - never to be forgotten in Macc folklore). First up or rather down was Francis who had lost the exchange to David P for very little compensation. Denzil appeared to have an advantage over Jill but on closer inspection Jill had blocked Denzil's extra pawn and despite Denzil's best efforts a draw beckoned. Behind that game was Macc's Tony B V Jeff and this was also jammed up with Tony doing well to halve after allowing Jeff's knight to occupy a key square. Tony then explained that we needed Joachim to at least draw and Geoff to win giving us a win by board elimination. Having been there as a non-playing captain MWH had little to do apart from work out the score and he couldn`t do that right. Still Joachim managed his draw in another blocked up game with Peter T and on we marched more in hope than expectation. Geoff was in a terrible position when I slipped him the scorecard showing that we needed to win - If a picture is worth a thousand words then this was it. Andy C for Stockport was about to smash into Geoff's defences when he decided instead for a clever innovation that unfortunately for him was an oversight or miscalculation that hung a bishop. Game On! Geoff then had a lot of work to do to free himself from the shackles but he did it giving back the bishop for a position that was IMO winning. Unfortunately with the draw offers coming in thick and fast (well at least 2) the Secretary slipped into 5 minutes left and then 1 minute and the last chance disappeared when Andy kept the queens on leaving Geoff to lose on time. So a terrific fightback from the Secretary was thwarted as he narrowly failed to secure the win that would have seen Macclesfield progress to the next round. Well played Stockport and good luck for the rest of the competition.