A Smirnoff Ice didn’t stop Joel Morales keeping a cool head to storm to victory last night but Battersea’s Minor team still fell agonisingly short of a win.

Up against Morley College at home the MI side narrowly lost 1.5 to 2.5 to record a first defeat this season in London League division 6.

Newboy Lawrence Cook was the first to fall.

From the look of it he had attacked early – a Simon Williams-esque h4 had been played – but his far more experienced opponent hit back har.

One nil to the college boys.

Next up Leon Watson accepted a draw on board 1. The match was stodgy and close but Leon had the better of it and perhaps should have carried on.

Leon's final position
Leon’s final position

As Denmark booked their place at the footie World Cup against Ireland over in Dublin, Tim Allen was coming up against the rarely used Danish Attack on board 3.

He was not familiar with the Danish – like most people – but thankfully, Tim noted, Arnold was on hand after the game to reveal exactly how he should have played it.

The scoresheet for Battersea Vs Morley College, division 6
The scoresheet for Battersea Vs Morley College, division 6

Morley now had the decisive lead and it was left to the alcopop-swigging Spaniard Joel to pick up a consolation point against his bamboozled opponent.

A stiff drink, although perhaps not a Smirnoff Ice, for all.

Next up we play Hammersmith on Tuesday, November 28 at our venue. Anyone wishing to play should let me know.