Ealing II 6 - Albany I 2
: Created:12 Apr 2008 , byA wonderful end of the season result for Ealing's second team in division two of the Middlesex league
Captain, Chris Greenshields writes:
Ealing 2nds played its last match of the season in the Middlesex League, fielding a fairly weakened side against Albany 1sts. After the disappointment of recent defeats, the team put in a stunning performance winning 6-2.
First to notch up a point was Alastair Johnstone on board 7 when his opponent failed to turn up. Annurai Sainbayar, standing in at the last minute, played a confident, composed game on board 8 and brought home another point but unfortunately Simon Healeas succumbed to time trouble and lost on board 4. 2-1 to Ealing.
My opponent returned the favour, getting into bad time trouble, and soon after the time control his position fell apart. John Harvey had defeated his opponent earlier in the season and judging by his opponent's reaction, revenge was on his mind when he saw that he was playing John. Unfortunately he was perhaps a little over-optimistic since he lost to John again, dropping a piece apparently. 4-1 to Ealing.
With only half a point needed to win the match, the final 3 matches entered endgames which could all potentially have been lost. Mark Winterbotham did lose on board 3, unable to hold a pawn down in a difficult ending. But then Dale Gibbon's opponent blundered, leaving himself with insufficient material to force checkmate, ensuring victory to Ealing. Dale went on to win the game in time trouble.
Sryrm Shalabayev on board 2 played an excellent ending, allowing his opponent to push for victory and then crushing him with counterplay. This win meant that the final score was 6-2.
This is the final match of the season for Ealing 2nds and we finish on 6/14 which I think is a very good effort. We will finish at least 6th in the league table, thus avoiding relegation, but this result may mean we come fifth out of the eight competetitors, which would be a great achievement. Tonight's result and our win at home to Willesden, who may well be promoted, were the highlights of the season.