The wheels came off the Macc `C` locomotive last night with a 5-1 humbling at the hands off East Cheshire. The preparation for this game was truly horrific. A trickle of absenteeism led to a full blown surging torrent of biblical proportions that crashed the Hat website and caused the emergency hotline to meltdown. A special thanks then to Mrs Hat for stepping in at the last nanosecond.
Mrs H failed to score and Mr Hat is wise not to comment. Second up was Joachim, I thought he was a piece down but complicated but when I next looked a draw had been agreed in what looked to be a double edged game. On board 5 I could hear the clattering of wood synonymous with a David M game and he looked to be winning at one point but alas with little material left Tudor won a bishop and that was that. The other scorer on the night was Marc who continues to play flamboyant unrestricted chess. Looking to avenge a defeat back at the ranch Marc allowed the wily Dave T access behind his advanced lines and a draw was forced. Board 2 and I really do need to sort my move order out. Well played Keven and we move on (swiftly). Man of the match in defeat was Tony Lane. David N had plonked his knight in a square that led to complications all over. Tony’s time advantage was dwindling, a draw offer refused. The baying East Cheshire mob scented blood but Tony picked out combination after combination and David N ran down to 3 seconds on the clock. A second draw offer refused by David N who was insisting on a fight to the death. Tony was a N+3 against N+2 and surely as long as the Knights stay on Tony has at least a draw. In full blitz mode though the knights were exchanged allowing David a passed pawn forcing Tony’s king to move across towards the h file whilst David snaffled Tony’s remaining pawns and also securing safe passage for the final pawn to promote.
This was another match where the valiant warriors of Macc C were heavily outgraded on all boards. Unlike the previous game there was no reward but at least nothing was given to our survival rivals. Next up Chorlton at home and a massive game. Well played East Cheshire and perhaps given the 5-1 scoreline we can expect a blog in return.