Martin reports

Gosforth difficult away games.

It’s with great sadness I write this article. Team lost, then I lost.

James saved his game from a troubled position in the Caro-Kann, after Alan got into trouble with a pin in a sharp Sicilian. Mike played well against Mick Riding but ran short of time and a drawn game was the result.

That left a posse of players around my board. It had reached an opposite colour bishop ending and I was a pawn down. Lesson in life; don’t count on stuff until the game is over. I glanced at the clock. Is that a mistake? My time was perilous, suddenly 40 secs, then 10 secs. I bashed in a couple of moves or was it more, probably five as time had reached a minute. Thank God, but then unfortunately, I’m losing a drawn ending.

Sometimes in life you work your socks off and get nothing. Some days chess can be the same.

3-1 Gosforth

(Martin)