The Witney 1 team is so strong and the line-up so consistent that it has recently proved all but unbeatable — in fact Witney went through the whole of last season’s league and cup competitions without a loss.

So it was something of a surprize to see them crash to a 5-1 pummelling at the hands of University 1 on November 1.

Of course, with an international stock of brains to draw on the University can sometimes ambush local sides. I remember a league match back in the 1990s when my University opponent beat me rather easily and then revealed himself to be the reigning US champion!

Regular readers of this column will know that the Witney top board, Marcus Harvey is usually the one dishing out defeats — but not this time. He may have been surprised to sit down opposite a player of the calibre of the Canadian International Master, Raja Panjwani, and he certainly played as if caught in the headlights.

White: Marcus Harvey Black: Raja Panjwani

1.g3 c5 2.Bg2 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.0–0 The position resembles a Sicilian now and here White could consider 6.c4 — hindering Black’s central expansion before continuing development with Nc3.

6...Be7 7.b3 A move criticised by Raja after the game. Development of the bishop on the the long diagonal looks sensible — but it takes time and a higher priority should probably be given to constraining Black’s centre.

7...0–0 8.Bb2 There’s still a chance to play 8.c4 before Black can play ...d5

8...d5 Now playing c4 will land White with a weakling on c4.

9.e3 Played because the natural 9.Nd2 gets hit by the powerful pawn charge 9...e5 10.N4f3 e4 11.Nd4 e3!?

9...e5!? 10.Nf3 e4 11.Nfd2?! The best place on the board for this knight must be d4 — so why not 11.Nd4?

11...Bg4 12.f3 Not wishing to be pushed around anymore, Marcus fights back at the cost of weakening his pawn structure. Black is certainly for choice after 12.Qc1 — but with c4 coming at last, it’s not unplayable.

12...exf3 13.Bxf3 Bh3 14.Bg2 Qd7 15.Qf3 Nc6 16.Nc3 Rae8!? Taking aim at e3 while keeping f7 under guard.

17.Rae1 d4! Further opening up the position to take advantage of the two bishops, White’s weakened king position and exposed queen.

18.Nce4 18.exd4 Nxd4 is very unpleasant for White and no improvement on the game continuation.

18...Ne5 19.Qf4 Ng6 20.Qf3 Nxe4 21.Nxe4? Marcus had to try 21.Bxh3 Nxd2 22.Qg2! Qc6 23.Qxd2 dxe3 24.Qd4 with a little — though not enough - compensation for the pawn.

21...Bg4! 22.Qf2 f5! 23.exd4 White must allow the knight to be taken — because 23.Nd2 dxe3 24.Qxe3 Bf6 is even worse — and this effectively ends the game.

23...fxe4 24.Qe3 Bf3! 25.Bxf3 exf3 26.Rxf3 Bf6 27.Qf2 Rxe1+ 28.Qxe1 Bxd4+ 0–1