Woodpushers 1 v Uckfield 1

Our last match of the season and although we believed (and so did Woodpushers) that this was a dead rubber because of the result of a match between Horsham 3 and Lewes 2 on the previous evening we needed to take no chances and make sure that we got enough game points to avoid any possibility of Lewes overtaking us.  In the end we lost the match 3-2, but stayed in the division.

Chaski on Board 1 gained space on the queenside before invading with his pieces and swapping down into a won pawn endgame, very smooth.  Mark on Board 2 made a pig's ear of the opening and then unaccountably allowed a bishop fork of the two rooks.  Although getting back into the game a little, it was never enough and my opponent traded into a very winning end game, giving mate in the end.  Arran on Board 3 appeared to have a very even game which came down to an endgame with one knight each and 3 versus 2 pawns in his opponent's favour.  It looked like a draw, and so it proved on later analysis.  Simon lost a piece quite early on and after that it was a matter of time really.  So, 1 1/2 v 2 1/2 with MIchael still playing on Board 5.  Michael had played an excellent game and was queen and a couple of pawns v rook to the good.  His opponent was generating threats against MIchael's king however and with time running short these things can be tricky.  There was an opportunity to liquidate into a very winning knight endgame but it's difficult to make that sort of decision under pressure and as the playing time came to an end Michael would have had to give up his queen for the rook anyway...but he was now only one pawn up in a knight ending...and that was going to be a draw.

So we ended up losing the match 3-2 which was a shame as it really looked like we would get a draw out of it. A pleasant evening though, very hospitable and friendly hosts who we will be playing again next season.