Lytham 1 V Preston 1

Press / Admin Comment

Many congratulations to Preston 1 on winning this match and securing this season's Division A title! Coming into the match, Preston knew that a draw would be sufficient to take the spoils, while Lytham knew that only a win would give them a hope of overhauling Morecambe at the other end of the table. Both therefore fielded strong teams... Board 4 was first to finish: Alan soaked up Phil's early pressure and managed to exchange down to a bishop and a few pawns each to reach a draw. On Board 1, Brett cautiously built up a significant space advantage and pressure against Paul's offbeat opening. But with all the pieces on the board and not even a pawn exchanged, could Paul strike back if Brett overpressed?.... On Board 2, John and Malcolm somehow transposed into yet another variation of one of their favourite battlegrounds. Malcolm went a pawn up, but John's pieces were better developed. No way of predicting which way this game would go, but with such an imbalance, surely not a draw?... Meanwhile on Board 3, after a cagey and tense opening, Colin managed to wrest the initiative from Graham in the middle game and was pressing for a win, but starting to run short of time. Graham cannily offered a draw at a critical moment in the position and the match. The match situation dictated the decision to play on.... and as the first time control loomed, Colin chose the wrong continuation, Graham found the corrrect defence to take the advantage, and a final blunder decided the game in Graham's favour. Back on Board 2, Malcolm had offered a draw, which John declined, but then after good counterplay from Malcolm, had to offer a draw in return - happily accepted. And finally on Board 1, both Paul and Brett had consumed a lot of their time in the opening and had to speed up towards the first time control. Brett got the better of the ensuing complications to win the game and seal the title. Post-match conversation quickly turned to the healthy state of both clubs and ideas on how best to continue to develop the influx of new players from this season into next. Preston will take some catching!

Colin Walker