Dunfermline Minnows V Grangemouth Tigers 8-8 draw - 01/02/2012

This was not the boring match draw like 8-8 suggests, it could have been won and lost many times over. Events just seemed to keep balancing themselves out.

Very tense and close match all the way through, which relied on key players doing their bit. In the first game I missed several good moves and played myself into a losing position, only for Dougie to miss something and I salvaged a key draw. The next game against Ian Mason, I agreed a draw in a winning position. It was just too hard to see with a minute left each, a key draw for them. My games against Bill and Hugh were more straightforward, although I had to fight against a difficult opposite coloured pawn endgame against Bill. 

After two rounds we were tied and Ian and I thought that we had to win our two remaining matches to secure at least a draw. Ian was cruising to this, until he blew an easy win against Dougie in the last round. I can see in my head now how he could have won it and I am sure he can too. Hope he slept well later, it would have kept me awake. Luckily for us Terry pulled off a surprise draw with Ian Mason, to draw the match.  

A drawn match suits the Minnows more than the Tigers, as the Minnows have a 3 point board score advantage going into the last match. Both have to play a Stirling team, although the Tigers have to play the more difficult Bruce team. While the Minnows have to play the Wallace team who are yet to win a match this season.

Captains log:

"Looked like this had slipped away from Minnows when Ian R failed to convert a crushing position against Dougie in the last round but we were saved by Terry who snatched a perpetual when he was the exchange down against Ian M. All to play for in the last rounds v the Stirling sides."

Minnows	8-8	Tigers
Ian Robertson 2215	1-0	Ian Mason 1714
John McBride 1748	Draw	Dougie Will 1862
George Webb 1530	1-0	Hugh Hanlon 1339
Terry Doherty 1307	0-1	Bill Gray 1494
	2.5-1.5
Ian Robertson	1-0	Bill Gray
John McBride	Draw	Ian Mason
George Webb	0-1	Dougie Will
Terry Doherty	0-1	Hugh Hanlon
	1.5-2.5
Ian Robertson	1-0	Hugh Hanlon
John McBride	1-0	Bill Gray
George Webb	0-1	Ian Mason
Terry Doherty	0-1	Dougie Will
	2-2
Ian Robertson	Draw	Dougie Will
John McBride	1-0	Hugh Hanlon
George Webb	0-1	Bill Gray
Terry Doherty	Draw	Ian Mason
	2-2