Outgraded Lichfield pull off fine win

Birmingham League Division 1

Below strength and outgraded on every board, Lichfield’s first team pulled off an excellent 4-2 win at Redditch to move into sixth place in the Birmingham League’s Division 1. Encouragingly, Lichfield have already played three of the top five teams and while all the seven teams below Lichfield have one or two matches in hand David Hulme and his team have every reason to beliieve they can avoid the dreaded drop with a bit to spare this season.

It was David who set the tone, preventing his opponent castling and then succeeding in opening winning lines to his opponent’s King.

Maurice Staples was the exchange up but could not force the win and there was another steady draw from John Keaveney. Adam Routledge, back in the first team for the first time this season, won a piece and simplified into a winning endgame.

The pressure was on Ben Nevett-Farman who was running short of time but had the compensation of a strong attack on his oppondent’s King and to avoid mate that meant sacrificing a piece. Ben then comfortably conrolled the situation and poduced Lichfield’s third winning point.

The only loss was by Albert Chacko, drafted in for his first first team game. It went to a Bishops and Knights endgame before he lost.(Match played 13th november)