We entered this match with our destiny in our own hands, but after this disappointing defeat, it is not.

Fair play to Harrow Juniors who showed grit and determination to pull off the win.

I was able to witness the games at first hand after having reluctantly agreed an early draw on the white side of a Caro-Kann Tartakower Variation: I simply couldn’t see a way to make progress in a very stodgy position.

On first appraisal, all four of the remaining games looked relatively even although Simon was a pawn down and this ultimately decided matters.

On two, Devina did extraordinarily well to emerge with a win, Although Devina invested three pawns in an attempt to consummate her attack which also left her king with scarcely any protection., her opponent seemed to have everything under control,. But, finally her endeavours were rewarded with a crushing mating finish. Splendid stuff!

Tony was on the white side of a Pirc Defence and seemed to have a firm grip on the position, swapping queens early in order to fix black with a backward d-pawn. He says he missed a simple tactic which would have given him a strong advantage but his opponent put up a stubborn fight and, short on time, Tony made a fatal slip in the endgame.

Finally, Jan, who visually had the better of the middlegame with two bishops and rook vs. two knights and rook but no obvious way to make progress. He chose to sacrifice a pawn in an effort to open the game and ultimately lost in the endgame. Simon and I thought Ka8 rather than K16 as played in the game, should have resulted in a draw but we may have misremembered the position. Whatever the case, by then it would not have been enough to save the match.

Harrow Juniors are now in the box seat to scupper our chances of gaining promotion although Greenford are also in the fight. The final outcome won’t be known until the end of May.