Ealing A 4.5 - Hendon A 3.5
: Created:12 Nov 2008 , byIn a match notable for Hendon's fine sportsmanship, Ealing won by the narrowest of margins.
Ealing had a good start on the scoreboard when Veljko Stanisic's opponent was unable to make the match but I think that we played our part in a sporting contest by not asking for the win until 45 minutes had elapsed.
Adrian Ociepka produced some fine chess on board five to add to our lead and Alan Perkins's excellent draw on board two, cemented our advantage. Ealing 2.5 Hendon 0.5.
On board three Martin Smith was producing some class moves but somehow with two dominant bishops, went off the rails and sadly he lost. This small disaster was accentuated when Simon Randall suffered a second Sicilian Defence defeat in six months against the Grand Prix attack, initiated this time by Adam Raoof.
It was Sainbayar Tserendorj who turned the match around for us with a tremendous victory on board seven, admittedly from a passive position that looked no more than a draw but Bayar's fighting qualities have no equal. These praiseworthy epithets were absent from the performance of our captain who appalled the watching kibitzers with his inability to close out a favourable position but credit must be given to his opponent, Mike Bennett for his imaginative use of a truly cunning knight.
We give thanks to Marko Krivokapic for clinching our victory on board one with exact play in a time scramble. Thanks Marko for your draw which allowed us to creep past our gallant opponents.