Sale 1 - 4 Macclesfield `C`
Unable to find a Basil Fawlty branch to beat my non-starting car meant a dash to the bus stop in the cold, wet and windy. A bus ride to Macclesfield and there I met the team and a special thank you to Tom for agreeing to drive at short notice and to Dave M for driving me home. First to finish on Board 3 was Dave M who just gets more aggressive and better with every game. David S followed shortly after having made his pawn advantage pay in what could have been a tricky rook and pawn endgame - 2 nil to Macc. On Board 4 Tom had seized the initiative and then traded down to what should have been a winning king and pawn endgame. However, with the winning post in sight, a lapse of concentration and our beautiful game can be so unforgiving 2-1. Marc on top board has been inconsistent this season but he played an absolutely beautiful game against his erstwhile teammate Vijay bringing home the full point shortly after 9.20pm. That left the best part of an hour for Man with the Hat and his opponent to entertain the crowd in a surreal atmosphere. The Hat prevailed but only after several scares. This team is growing in confidence and stature with every game that we play and if we can maintain this sort of form then who knows where we will be come the end of April.