C team digs deep to knock rivals off the top of the table

Shrewsbury C have got a taste for upsetting the odds against division three’s big hitters – and they’re aiming to upset the league leaders for the second match in a row when Telford C visit this week.

Ben Howells’ side secured a hugely impressive 2-2 draw away to local rivals Darwinian Knights C last time out – some achievement considering the Cs lost the reverse fixture at Cromwell’s 4-0 back in October.

That result knocked Darwinian off the top of the table – and the Telford C team that replaced them at the summit are Shrewsbury’s next opponents on Wednesday, writes Peter Kitchen.

Captain Howells said he was “absolutely buzzing” after the Darwinian draw – and said he hoped for a repeat effort against Telford.

Having come into the match on the back of a humbling defeat against Darwinian’s junior team two weeks ago, this was an impressive response from the Cs.

Although Orlando Bell was beaten by former division one regular John Bashall on top board and Nick Nuthall went down against Paul Billington on board two Shrewsbury secured a point thanks to wins on the bottom two boards.

Howells won against the experienced Steve Wilson on board three, while on his C team debut Chris Warrilow was victorious against Martin Ayres on bottom board.

Howells said: “I was absolutely buzzing with the result – there was a win on his team debut for Chris as well as myself.

“We need all the points we can coming into the business end of the season and it gives us a spur to know they (Darwinian Knights C) were top of the league.”

Howells has rotated his squad regularly throughout the season as he looks to give up to 10 players at his disposal regular experience of league chess.

And while he remained coy about the side he would be putting out on Wednesday, he said he was confident his side would give Telford a good game.

Having lost the away fixture 3.5-0.5 earlier in the campaign, the Cs again will go into the match as underdogs lying sixth in the eight-team division.

Howells said: “Without going into too much detail, the squad has been rotated and with fresh brains I’m sure we can kick up a storm yet again as we have already proved we can go toe to toe with the best in the league.”

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Darwinian Knights C 2-23 Shrewsbury C

1.John Bashall 1-0 Orlando Bell (w)

2.Paul Billington 1-0 Nick Nuthall (b)

3.Steve Wilson 0-1 Dafydd Howells (w)

4.Martin Ayres 0-1 Chris Warrilow (b)

Average ratings: Darwinian Knights C 1451 ECF; Shrewsbury C 1311 ECF