The club where your moves matter
| Date | Event | Home Team | Result | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 28 Apr 2010 | Sheffield Division 1 | Nomads B | 4-4 | Barnsley A |
| Board | Home Player | Result | Away Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (w) | Nomeq Haidar | 0-1 | Drabble Andrew |
| 2 | George Andrew | 1-0 | Butterworth Andy |
| 3 | Newett Mike | 1-0 | Pogson Tony |
| 4 | Hards Andrew | 0-1 | Sheard Martin |
| 5 | Crosthwaithe Stuart | ½-½ | Greensmith David |
| 6 | Ford Phil | ½-½ | Farrell Tony |
| 7 | Dewhurst Ken | 1-0 | Hunter Ken |
| 8 | Phipps Oliver | 0-1 | Micklethwaite Peter |
This was the match no-one could afford to lose!
Nomads B needed to win the match to keep their division one hopes alive. Barnsley B needed to at least draw the match to ensure first division safety without having to win Chesterfield A who are challenging for the title the following week.
Both teams fielded their strongest sides for this crunch tie. Each team improving the teams they fielded from their last encounter the previous month. On paper at least Barnsley A had the edge but no-one could have predicted what was to happen.
The first game to finish was board five with Stuart and Dave drawing in an opposite coloured bishop ending.
Though not sure what order the games ended in next, Barnsley A took a 1½-3½ lead with wins on boards one, four and eight whilst Nomads B hit back with a win on board three.
Barnsley A only needed another draw in the remaining three games to draw the match relegating Nomads B.
Things however were not so simple. On board seven in the battle of both Kens black resigned with white two pawns up in a queen and pawn ending. The score was now 2½-3½ in favour of Barnsley.
Andy Butterworth on board two lost on time having had a won position. He was not able to find the win in the blitz finish. The match was now tied 3½-3½.
In the final game on board five white (Tony Farrell) had rook and pawn against a black knight and an army of pawns. With two black pawns on the seventh rank white looked lost but in desperation gave up his rook for the knight on c3 which Black (Phil Ford) recaptured not realising that his opponent was stalemated!
The stalemate position being White king on e1, Black king on f3, Black pawns on e2 and c3.
There were other pawns on the board.
The match was drawn 4-4 and Barnsley live to fight another year in division one!
Commiserations to Nomads B who I am sure will soon be back in division one, stronger and better after their experiences in the top flight this season.