STOKE LEAGUE SUCCESS

With a disappointing loss in the Open cup and a draw from their only league fixture to date, the Stoke League team travelled to Newcastle eager to kickstart their season. Once Phil Colville had managed to find the drinks counter and both he and the secretary had managed to assuage their thirst, the match got underway. Before too long, Phil reaped the benefit as his opponent announced his resignation. Second to finish, the captain admitted to his opponent that he had been let off the hook – but 2-0 looked good and encouraged the secretary to offer a draw having seen that Ant on board 4 was very well placed. Martyn refused, clearly playing for his team, but shortly after Ant secured the point and the match. Having engaged the services of the captain to record the moves in his final 5 minutes, the secretary capitalised on a good bishop v bad bishop ending, 4-0. On top board the club champion was conceding many grading points to Alex, top rated Newcastle player, but reached a rook and pawn ending which theory shows is drawn with best play. After lots of accurate moves, the champion made his solitary mistake and Alex capitalised. 4-1 is an excellent result from this away fixture, but much annoyed with himself, the champion looked as if he just wanted to be miles away from a chessboard...

ALL SQUARE IN CHESHIRE DERBY

On a cold and freezing November night, newly promoted Macclesfield C entertain their neighbours from East Cheshire in search of their first point(s) of the season. Board 1 was first to finish in bizarre circumstances. Tudor and Denzil were slugging it out when Denzil thought that he had a winning move and played it with such confidence that Tudor resigned. Denzil had already realised his miscalculation and helpfully showed Tudor what he could have played to allow for a continuation. Next was Board 2 where I watched Marc play a4. c4, e4, f4 and g4. Never a dull moment with Marc but the wily Mr Taylor remained unfazed and got behind his opponent's defences and all of a sudden Marc's position collapsed 1-1. Next door to me on Board 4, Ant was cruising a piece up but his opponent put up an amazing defence before finally succumbing. Man with the Hat nicked a vital pawn and then a second one before trapping his opponent's knight in the middle of the board. 3-1 to Macc and just a half point required for the match. Unfortunately it wasn't to be and the experienced pair of Dave Broadbent and Bill Tait secured the last two points to level up the match.

With Macclesfield being outgraded on every board (Macclesfield average 121.0 - East Cheshire average 133.0) this was a creditable result and one that gives hope for what will undoubtedly be a hard season for us. Thanks to East Cheshire for 6 closely contested games played in an excellent spirit (with no draws).

MALLINSON THE MAGNIFICENT

MACCLESFIELD `B` 5 MACCLESFIELD `C` 1

Macclesfield `C` started the season in their new elevated division with a match against their higher graded club mates (an average of over 36 grading points to be precise). The final score was in keeping with expectations but the spirited and tenacious struggle was impressive. On board 5, Nick `the hurricane` Evans was accumulating time and after 40 minutes, due to the increments, had more time than he had started with. Dave M was singularly unimpressed, bided his time and then dispatched his opponent with a Haymaker that led those watching to reminisce the San Marino 1 England 0 score line from 1993. One Nil to the C team, yes this really was happening.

Everyone seemed to be holding their own until I noticed that David S`s position against Joachim seemed to have deteriorated rapidly and shortly after it was 1:1. Ant was a pawn down in a Rook and Bishop ending and normally I would have backed the King of the Swindles to save this but unfortunately he was up against the one person that you really don’t want to be facing in this situation - `Dogged Dave` who painstakingly converted the point with deadly accuracy 2:1. Next up the Man with the Hat playing the opposing captain, John Paul. I was happy with my opening, JP attacked like I had suspected he would H4, H5 etc but I stood firm. JP then tried to prise away one of my holding knights by offering up the exchange (twice). I declined but the offer was tempting enough to take 10 minutes off my clock! Exchanging Queens and moving into the endgame I was more than happy with my position but JP played the endgame better and once he had his nose in front his time advantage became significant 3:1. I still felt that we had a chance to salvage something even at this late stage.

A big hearty welcome back to an old school chum of mine. Tony appeared to have a spatial advantage and a good position against Phil `Kool Kat` Cattermole. Then a blunder drops a key pawn that leads to another lost pawn then another. Phil keeps his nerve and secures what looked to be an unlikely victory 4:1. Worse was to follow, Marc had looked to be on course for a fabulous victory after trapping the Secretary’s queen. The Secretary had 2 rooks but Marc seemed to be weaving a mating trap. The Secretary was down to the 10 second increments and desperately clinging on and drawing from his vast experience when Marc cracked and blundered. 5:1 seems a cruel score given the closeness of the games but there will be easier matches ahead.

I didn’t hear a draw offer all night – this team doesn’t run!