Brighton 4 v Uckfield 1

Last Thursday it was the first team away fixture at Brighton to play their fourth team.  It took deep into the resources of the second team in the absence of a few of our first team players to avoid paying a default penalty, so well done to Carel and Steve for volunteering and filling the gaps.  We knew this would be difficult as Brighton fielded a very experienced team full of 130+ players.  The game started in a bizarre fashion with mine on Board 3 against a very experienced player as we went through a draw by repetition after only ten moves and probably less minutes; to my usual e4 he offered me a pawn on d5, which I took and instead of bringing the queen out to take the pawn as most do, he played Nf6, so I checked with Bb5 and he kept blocking with the bishop, so I protected the pawn with Bc4, and so we went on and as he did not alter I decided not to either, but in fact I was unaware we had drawn by repetition until he told me ! Steve on 5 played the excellent Dona Straus who still sparkles in her 80s and after a generally solid game somewhere in the middle Steve lost momentum and became cautious and she took full advantage;  They had drafted in an England junior to face Chaski on the top board, but he was never good enough for Chaski though held out for a time  It was great to have Simon back after his long lay-off and he had a hard re-introduction on Board 2 against the Brighton captain, but he hung on till the end before losing a piece and then the game. So we were 1.5-2.5 down coming to the end but Carel on 4 looked not only good but incredibly calm as the time went lower particularly for his opponent, who under pressure made some mistakes in the end game and Carel coolly took full advantage before the game finished at 60 moves; it did not take too long to chat through and elicit the resignation from his opponent.  So given our weakened first team, a 2.5-2.5 match draw was not a bad result at all. It is still at least a mathematical possibility for the first team to be promoted, although we are indeed closer to the relegation places, so commitment to the final three matches will be necessary when Mark calls.