ECA 0 - 6 Stockport A

Last match of the season - we had to win to avoid relegation but instead we came across a very classy Stockport team.  We battled hard and still had 4 boards playing at 10.00 but the word of the night was "squeeze", we all seemed to end up in a collective zugzwang and got squeezed out with the inevitable pawns dropping late on.

Geoff  0 - 1  Alex Longson (221)
Geoff battled really hard in a Scandinavian and was the last man standing before an extra pawn became decisive.

Jim  0 - 1  Allan Beardsworth (215)
Another long game before being squeezed out and an eventual piece sac led to an unstoppable pawn.

Kev  0 - 1  Sarah Longson (200)
To be fair to Kev he is trying to extend his already extensive opening repertoire and learnt a bit more about the French Tarrasch last night.  He ended up taking aggressive action to avoid being squeezed but his sac turned out to be faulty.  At least he castled without incident (thank God for that!).

Tudor  0 - 1  Andy Reeve (203)
Tudor put up a really good show and even had a nice time advantage before the inevitable squeeze late on.

Paul  0 - 1  Mike Taylor (165)
I managed to throw some pieces at his King and then later he was worried about his Q being trapped but he defended skillfully and then came up with some nice tactical threats before picking me off.

Nick  0 - 1  Mike Tunstall (156)
Nck unfortunately developed an eye infection just before the game and was playing virtually blindfolded and did well to compete as well as he did in the circumstances.

So there we have it, it's Division 2 for us next season and after last night that's not such a bad thing!

ECA 1.5 - 4.5 Chorlton

We entertained Chorlton last night and this was our last realistic chance of avoiding relegation.  The evening started well - they were missing several first team players and although they were still pretty strong we certainly had a chance of pulling something off.  Dave Broadbent's decision not to have a punt on us at 1,000-1 was beginning to look a bit foolish......

Alas, it wasn't to be.  We just didn't turn up on the night.

John  1/2  Piotr Niedbal (176)
John had a significant edge but his opponent played well and forced a draw.

Steve  1/2  Austin Elliott (174)
Steve was very comfortable throughout and was offered a draw which he eventually accepted when he realized the match result had slipped against us.

Keven  0 - 1  Dennis Owen (160)
Kev put up a decent show and competed well but eventually lost on time.  There was a little bit of "attitude" in this one when his opponent queried Kev's castling technique with a 2 handed shuffle but all was resolved later.

David T  0 - 1  Stan Foulkes (160)
David is normally the last to finish and is doggedly solid but unfortunately something went wrong here and he lost material and the game.

Tudor  1/2  Graham Phythian (129)
This game was played at rapidplay pace and with many exchanges with Tudor equalizing comfortably for the draw.

Paul  0 - 1  Alan Beresford (130)
I faced a double fianchetto defence and never really came up with the right plan and eventually lost a pawn running out of time.

So we have just one more match left - against the mighty Stockport, and we'll be without Reed and Tranter.  Mr Broadbent was clearly no fool to keep his money in his pocket!  Our odds have probably now slipped out to 5,000-1.

ECA 1 - 5 Holmes Chapel

Tudor's description of last Wednesday's battle:

Here’s the pseudo captain’s report. Suspect I won’t have to problem about being ineligible for second team next season!

The battle against Holmes Chapel

The unpredictability of chess. Arrive from the match to find I have not sent my willingness to play reply to Captain Paul.

Who shows willingness to hand over his chair to me if I do the captain’s duties, which  this post. So here goes.

The headline news is the the team was demoralised at this change, rather like Barcelona subbing Messi shortly before the kick off. 

Paul hopped it to see the Man U game (with Messi still playing for Barcelona).

Silence descends as EC prepares to do its best.

A tight match. No one seems to be in a hopeless lost positions even after half an hour.

A quick prowl confirms this splendid situation.

Then I fall into difficulties and prowling ceases.  I have an utterly lost game.  My opponent has broken through my Q side defence against my castled king.  My counter attack in the centre falls one move short of crushing it and him.  On the principle it can’t get worse I find a ridiculous resource and ward off the multiple mate threats, even leaving me with chances of a good rook against a very naughty bishop and sick looking knight. 

Time passes. The others approach and write their results on the scorecard.  Wow, Geoff and Steve have drawn their games.

Then David’s Fort Knox gives up (remember the scene in Goldfinger).

Keven’s bold advances perish against the hedgehog style (spines?) of his opponent. 

John has found brilliant opening play almost solving the mystery of the Schleswig-Holstein gambit. Alack, one casual move and his play against at IM rated opponent foundered. 

Long into the night I hold out.  First his knight then the bishop extricate themselves. 

Last man standing yields.  It is all over.  So there we have it.

Another valiant display from the latter day Rork’s Drift warriors.  The First Division will miss us next year.

 

 

Bd	East Cheshire A	Home	Away	Holmes Chapel
1	Reed, John S	0	1	Blackburn, Jonathan LB
2	Tranter, Steve	½	½	Bennett, Patrick
3	Brindle, Geoffrey	½	½	Turner, John M
4	Holton, Keven R	0	1	Hancock, Michael L
5	Taylor, David R	0	1	Bates, Ian
6	Rickards, Tudor	0	1	Lee, Michael A