The B team went back to the top of division 2 this week after a superb 4-1 away victory against leaders Newport B. This brings our total tally against them to 9-1. We are now a point clear of our two nearest rivals and 2 points clear of third place and with a game in hand on all of them. Ludlow A lurks menacingly in the background, 3 points behind (same number of matches as us), so it is still all to play for and the final run to the end of the season promises to be an exciting, nail-biting affair. Could this be our year?
Mark continued his great run of form on board 1 by forcing resignation from Danny Griffiths after winning the exchange in a Centre Counter game and obtaining dangerous mating threats. After spending the whole of the weekend preparing the Albin Counter Gambit, my opponent then, of course, opened with the London system, about which I knew absolutely nothing! All that shuffling about of the pieces must have helped though, as I first isolated his d-pawn, ganged up on it and then won it. After swapping the final pair of Rooks my Knight and King were too strong against his Bishop and King as I went about picking off his pawns. Norman then drew on board 3 (I barely saw any of this game – sorry Norman!)
Tony, on board 5, had a totally won position but knowing that the draw gave us victory, offered one which was immediately accepted. I think he just wanted an early night!
Peter Kitchen was appearing for us on board 2 and, by all accounts, was in a pretty precarious position at one stage against Athar Mehmood and rapidly running out of time. I think Athar must have sacrificed a piece for a couple of Peter’s King side pawns, as he seems prone to do. Peter staged a comeback as everyone watched (always nerve-racking that, isn’t it?) It was all very tactical at this stage, with Peter proving to be the better tactician by winning his opponent’s Queen and forcing resignation.
Next up is Telford B at home. Only 4 games left; watch this space!
Ian Davies, B Team Captain