Wimbledon C 2.5 Ealing B 1.5
: Created:24 Mar 2009 , by Alastair JohnstoneA tight finish is in store following last night's top-of-the-table clash in Thames Valley League, Div.3
| Thames Valley League, Div.3 | Monday 12th March 2009 | ||||
Bd | Wimbledon C | Gd. | Ealing B | Gd. | |
1 | Skielnik, Joseph J | 154 | 0-1 | Wells, Anthony D | 145e |
2 | Ivanishchak, Ivan | 147 | p | Sanchez, Miguel | 142 |
3 | Hughes, Anthony | 140 | p | Collacott, Nick P | 138 |
4 | Bryant, Jonathan | 140 | 0.5-0.5 | Winterbotham, Mark | 133 |
5 | Archer, Paul R | 135 | 1-0 | Harvey, John T | 126 |
6 | Carpenter, Stephen CD | 134 | 1-0 | Johnstone, Alastair G | 122 |
Avg Gd | 142 | 2.5-1.5 | 134 | ||
With both teams entering the match with 7 wins from 8 played and the season drawing to a close, this was always going to be a close and tense struggle. And so it proved.
There is a huge disparity of strength in Division 3 of the Thames Valley League and, after some relatively lightweight opponents, Wimbledon C lined up with by far our strongest competition of the season. While not at full strength for a variety of reasons, Ealing was still able to muster a more than half-decent team.
Prospects were not looking bright when John Harvey had an unwelcome guest at the heart of his position in the form of a knight taking residence at g7. Unable to repel the invader, John's position soon came under irresistible pressure with the inevitable result.
A solid draw from Mark Winterbotham put Ealing on the board, but this was the final contribution from the lower half of the order as my opponent gained revenge for our match last year and with some accurate and dynamic play took full advantage of some inaccuracies in my opening play.
Ealing spirits were soon retored however, when Tony Wells, in his debut appearance for the team delivered the full point on top board. I saw little of the game, but Miguel was full of praise for Tony's play.
Two games remained unfinished at the end of the evening with both due to be played on at Wimbledon. Miguel is quietly confident that, with accurate play, he can win his own continuation, but, after seemingly enjoying an initiative for most of the evening, Nick's position looked difficult, but not hopeless.