Combined ‘B’ team defeat league leaders

Derby League Division 2

The combined Burton and Lichfield ‘B’ team secured an excellent 2.5 – 1.5 victory against league leaders Clay Cross to move within a point of them at the top of Division 2.

David Pickering, coming in as a last minute illness substitute as white on Board 3, agreed a draw once his early slight positional advantage ebbed away. At about the same time, John Hoddy wrapped up a convincing win against Derby League stalwart and new Clay Cross recruit Dean Hartley. John won a pawn in the opening and converted efficiently; a strong performance against a strong opponent.

It looked possible that Ryan Smith, playing on Board 1, could complete the match victory. His opponent sacced the exchange to leave himself with a very strong bishop on b7 eying light-squared weaknesses around Ryan’s king. It was a good practical choice, although not actually a sound sacrifice, but was rewarded when, at a key moment, Ryan missed an opportunity to close the diagonal with a pawn push. His opponent took advantage, finishing the game off with another neat sacrifice.

With the match tied up, the result now depended on Joe Parker’s match on Board 4. Joe, although a pawn up, was under some positional pressure, but his opponent slid into time trouble, eventually losing on time in a position that had already collapsed. A great win for Joe against a higher-rated opponent, and an important victory for Burton and Lichfield ‘B’. (Match played: 9th December)