Ealing B 2.5 Hayes B 3.5
: Created:07 Nov 2008 , by Alastair JohnstoneEaling B lose out to Hayes B.
- = + - - +Bd Ealing B Gd. Hayes B Gd. 1 Shalabayev, Syrym 148 Lord, Peter R 143 2 Winterbotham, Mark 133 Walters, Peter D 151 3 Shalabayev, Salim 140 Parr, Keith J 120 4 Zusin, George 132 O'Neill, Richard 105 5 Harvey, John T 126 Fewtrell, Chris 104 6 Johnstone, Alastair G 122 Nettleton, Charlie 52
After suffering in Division 2 last year, Ealing's second team were looking forward to easier pickings this time around. But the early signs are that Division 3 will also be very competitive.
Hayes took an early lead when George, in his first game of the season, got into difficulties in the opening and walked into a mating trap. The deficit doubled when John also lost on Board 5.
Things were also looking bleak on top board, where Syrym's king was under heavy siege but on Board 3 the other half of the brothers Shalabayev, Salim, quickly went a piece up to record a fine debut win.
I was finally able to win on bottom board, but not before I had given my young opponent some unnecessary counterplay. So, when Mark correctly agreed the draw on Board 2 with material even and a somewhat closed pawn structure, the match point went to Hayes.
So, a setback in our campaign for promotion, but as the football parlance has it, nothing is decided by early November.