Uckfield 2 v Woodpushers 3

 4 1/2 - 1/2

We had a very low attendance at the club session last Wednesday, but this was balanced by an excellent result for our second team as we beat Woodpushers 3 with our best score of the season 4.5 – 0.5.  The evening started with an advantage as they could not bring a board 5, so Daniel’s game was won by default, but we thank him for being there. Very early on Benedict’s opponent gave away his queen, but Benedict then finished off the game with a clinical precision.  So very early we had a 2-0 lead, but it seemed then that battle was truly joined as the more experienced opponents tried to dig in, so Michael, Steve and I had to be at our best as at that time Michael and Steve were even and I was a pawn down after a poorer opening.  Later in the evening Michael’s opponent gave away a piece, but it still took some time for Michael to bring him down finally.  Very late in the evening I found myself in what should have been an advantage to my opponent with my knight against his bishop, both of us having a rook and pawns left, but myself still a pawn down. However I managed to manoeuvre my knight well and in exchanging my knight for the bishop gained a pawn back. Following that the placement of my rook was better and I was able to push home from positional advantage to pawn gain and the win.  Steve was still battling, now being the exchange down, but it was a privilege to watch his use of a bishop and pawns against a rook and pawns. It took a while for his experienced young opponent to acknowledge that he would not be able to break Steve down and accept the draw.  Another match where all of our players were unbeaten !  Michael particularly is having a great season, and we of course would love our other juniors to be available for away matches too, but fully understand.