Broadstairs 5 Ramsgate 2
| 1 | David Faldon (170) | 1-0 | Steve Guy (139) |
| 2 | David Horton (164) | 1-0 | Brian Westover (138) |
| 3 | Bob Page (141) | ½-½ | Malcolm Snashall (127) |
| 4 | Paul Carfrae (132) | 1-0 | Velibor Milovanic (117) |
| 5 | John Couzens (131) | 0-1 | Chris Wand (114) |
| 6 | Andy Flood (113) | 1-0 | Bob Wallace (95) |
| 7 | David Wheatley (106) | ½-½ | Fred Hiron (85) |
David Faldon writes:
This was our third win of the season, reversing a 5-2 loss in the home fixture. Yes, we started the match as big favourites (Ramsgate were without their two highest rated players) but it’s still very satisfying to actually win a match.
Paul got us off to a great start with a quick win on board 4. A furious exchange of pieces left him well ahead on material and he’d sealed our first win within an hour of the start. Board 1 provided our second win. David F sacrificed a couple of pawns before either side had castled, setting up a whole range of nasty threats. Steve missed one of them.
David W’s game on board 7 was the third to finish, a hard-fought draw after an interesting opening. This left us two up with four to finish after two hours. Half an hour later we were three up with two to finish. Andy cashed in a queen-side pawn storm on board 6 to win a rook and the game. Bob then took a draw on board 3 to seal the overall result. A good team decision – Bob had a slight advantage in position but he was well behind on time.
The last two games went the full distance. John’s game on board 5 was exciting all the way (as usual) with both kings in danger, right up to the point when John lost a rook for nothing to a knight fork. David H on board 2 then finished off a well-played game in a tricky bishop versus knight ending to put the icing on the cake of a 5-2 win. Nice.
Many thanks to Ramsgate for their excellent hospitality. A 7-7 tie after our two Millar Cup matches this season leaves both sides with everything to play for next year.