| Nomads A 5½-2½ Barnsley A |
|---|
| Jon Nelson 1-0 Andy Butterworth |
| Chris Shephard 1-0 Pete Micklethwaite |
| Ian Barwick 1-0 Ken Hunter |
| Mike Newett 0-1 Richard Desmedt |
| Geoff frost ½-½ Neil Todd |
| Nick Mahoney 0-1 Tony Perry |
| Arjun Babu 1-0 Paul Lea-Kime |
| Eric McKenna 1-0 default |
Matches against Barnsley are always tough.
We had the advantage of a default win on board 8 after a late withdrawal through illness. The match proceeded cautiously with no real early advantages. Nick took a gambit pawn and seemed to be keeping it but lost it back in the middlegame. Mike won a pawn but the sacrificed it back for play.
Jon’s game was steady, Chris was looking favourable as was Ian. Arjun had a position where all the pieces are put on randomly, on unusual squares. I could not read it at all. My game was another inferior opening as black, and I soon felt in difficulties, real or imagined.
Ian then won with a strong finish. Chris won soon after so with the default we were 3-0.Things then wrong. Nick won/lost 2 Knights for a rook. His Knights were uncoordinated and the Rook rounded up his pawns and won. Mike had sacked a Knight for 3 pawns, but Richard’s Knight was very strong an that was 3-2. I offered my ususal draw at move 29, and Neil correctly declined. Mine then simplified and at move 40 he offered me a draw. I was sure that I was not losing but only had 3 minutes left. 1 of which I spent looking at Jon & Arjun! I concluded that 3 draws would get us home, so took the draw. Later analysis showed me to slightly better but only 2 minutes. Jon then won to secure the match. The icing and my incredulity was Arjun’s win in the last few minutes.