Unbeaten Manchester League Record lost in Snowstorm

Played at the Navigation on Thursday -

Marple 1             V        Denton 1      : Mcr Lge Div One   : 29/01/15

1 M Fernandez    0.5/0.5  P Lopez
2 I Lentzos            0-1       L Antal
3 I Craft                 0-1      D Soares
4 J Reed                0-1       T  Hilton 
5 G Trueman         0.5/0.5  J Ryan
6  P Kirby              1-0       D Holt
7 A Jenkins            1-0       D Fault

                                3-4

The weather on Thursday was very poor with heavy snow. I spent ninety minutes in the morning trying to get on the M60 before giving up. As I knew some of our players would be unable to reach the Navi and also if I am being honest being influenced by the fact that I was suffering from the virus from hell, around lunchtime I asked Tim Hilton if he thought the match should be postponed. Tim was very much of the opinion that the fixture should go ahead. In view of the fact there wasn't a single match free Thursday  available until the 28th of May I decided to go along with this.
Somehow by 7.30 we had been able to assemble a full team. The first twist was in a way amusing as I discovered Denton would have to default board 7 as George Kolbusz had been unable to get out of Mottram.I felt sorry for Andy though who had trudged through the snow at very short notice to find he had no opponent.
I'm afraid I cannot provide my usual board by board commentary. I realise this may look like news management of Murdochian proportions but John was keeping me very occupied and I simply felt too ill to keep getting up and looking at the the other games.
I managed to get some advantage against John and eventually won a pawn.My opponent defended very tenaciously though and aided I suspect by some poor technique by me we eventually reached  a R+3 V R+2  ending with pawns all on the Kingside. It was clear that I would have to win if we were to get anything from the match so I ploughed on but I could tell John knew exactly how to hold the position. I finally agreed to a match losing draw with thirteen seconds left on my clock.
So we lost the match but I would like to say a big thank you to all the players and drivers who turned out in such difficult conditions.