Both sides sported teams that would not have looked out of place in a much higher division.

Heathcote Arms recruited two players from their first team and Melton were boosted by Alan Jex on top board who has also featured for Melton's first team this season.

The first result of the night was a defeat for the new young player Andrew Keightley on bottom board.

Andrew was heavily outgraded, and his opponent built a central majority of pawns. Despite the best effort of Andrew's rooks, his opponent eventually pushed forward his pawns to secure the victory.

Alan Jex won on top board to level the score at one-all, but it was soon back in Heathcote's favour as Ian Farquharson finally resigned.

After being two pawns down for long periods, his opponent simplified into an opposite coloured bishops' endgame to force the win. Peter Smith was also material down against a much stronger opponent and he eventually fell to checkmate in the Kingside corner with queen and bishop.

This left the result 3-1 to Heathcote Arms and it will take an unlikely series of results for them not to win the league now, while the third team look likely to hold on to second place.

Next week sees all three Melton teams back in action.