Shrewsbury A came from behind to defeat relegated Maddocks B 3-2 and take the fight for runners up spot to the final day of the season.
Francis Best’s side clinched their fifth Shropshire Chess League division one win of the campaign and completed a league double over their hosts, having also won the reverse fixture 3-2 in February.
The match was every bit as close as the score suggested, with Shrewsbury scraping home thanks to two draws in the first two games to finish.
They had to do it the hard way – Stephen Priestley endured a rare off night on board four to lose inside the first hour against Munroe Morrison.
But Nathanael Paul equalised by beating William Bates – who was making a welcome first league appearance for more than three years – on top board, and Robert Green completed the turnaround by winning against Mark Billington on bottom board.
Peter Kitchen found himself in a difficult position a pawn down against Simon Maydew – only for his tiring opponent to offer a draw that was quickly and gratefully accepted. Skipper Francis Best then offered his opponent Steve Tarr a draw, which sealed a tight match in the visitors’ favour.
Shrewsbury stay fourth in the division one table, knowing a point against Newport A on May 26 will secure third place, whilst a win would gain the runners up spot. But Telepost A’s surprise 3-2 win over Maddocks A in their final fixture has put them in possession of third spot – defeat for Shrewsbury in their final would see them finish fourth below Newport A and Telepost A.
Shrewsbury made two changes from the side humbled 4-1 by champions Maddocks A on their last visit to Oakengates two weeks ago. Stephen Priestley and Robert Green came in on the bottom two boards in place of Dan Lockett and Richard Vernon.
The hosts had already seen their relegation back to division two confirmed, after just one season but were boosted by being able to field Bates on board one. A strong tactical player, Bates was making his first Shropshire league appearance since February 2020.
He replaced Gary White and slotted in on top board in Maddocks B’s only change from the 4-1 loss to Newport A last time out.
Within an hour, Shrewsbury were behind. Priestley, who has been in superb form both over the board and online this season, started on the front foot with the black pieces against Morrison and aggressively took a “poisoned pawn” on b2 with his queen. But despite having a promising position, he overstretched – and a risky attempt at sacrificing his a8 rook left his position in ruins and forced his resignation.
It was sweet revenge for Morrison, who had lost to Priestley the previous night in the rapidplay league. Lightning didn’t strike twice!
The remaining boards all looked very tense and tight affairs. But Shrewsbury equalised thanks to their talisman Paul, who outplayed Bates in an ending with a rook and knight each where both players had to handle doubled pawns. Bates’ attempt at sacrificing material boomeranged and left him with a lost position that Paul duly converted to victory.
Green then put Shrewsbury ahead with victory over Billington. Having thematically sacrificed a pawn in a Morra, Green had active pieces but appeared to have no obvious way to make progress – until Billington missed a knight fork that cost him a rook on the spot.
The final two games remained very tight and at this point the match could go either way. Best appeared to have a slight edge on the black side of a London System against Tarr, while Kitchen was embroiled in a complicated middlegame arising from a transposition into a Dutch Stonewall against Maydew.
It was Kitchen who was first to blink – an ill-advised Ba3 reaction to Maydew’s …c5 break led to exchanges that cost Kitchen his d4 pawn. This left him on the back foot and a pawn down as he strove to make life as difficult as possible for his opponent as he hunted victory.
Best turned down a draw offer from Tarr before both games finished within moments of each other. Maydew surprisingly offered Kitchen a draw, admitting afterwards that he was feeling tired. Best subsequently offered Tarr a draw which, after a short period of reflection, was accepted with the Maddocks man down on the clock in a complex position.
This saw Shrewsbury home 3-2 – and means all eyes turn to the visit of Newport in a couple of weeks time.
Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):
Maddocks B 2-3 Shrewsbury A
1. William Bates 0-1 Nathanael Paul (w)
2. Steve Tarr 0.5-0.5 Francis Best (b)
3. Simon Maydew 0.5-0.5 Peter Kitchen (w)
4. Munroe Morrison 1-0 Stephen Priestley (b)
5. Mark Billington 0-1 Robert Green (w)