Late team changes due to illness threatened to scupper Tek Sing Lexden's playoff ambitions in the seventh round of the National Squash League.
However with some fine performances from Tek Sing's local-based players they kept the ship well and truly on course with a 3-2 victory against Unisport Guildford.
Drawing 2-2 it was left to Welsh number one David Evans to seal Tek Sing's victory against Stephen Meads.
Evans dominated the first game and although Meads rallied and deservedly won the second, he had been forced to work so hard for the game that Evans was able to take the next two comfortably.
Great Britain's current number four Rebecca Macree enabled Tek Sing a great start with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Guildford's Sarah Kippax.
A late change in the number three rubber saw Lexden Squash Club coach Paul Allen facing his old rival Neil Frankland.
Tight shots, good length and above all cast iron concentration were the keys to Allen's game, and he scored a crucial 3-0 victory for himself and his team.
Last minute illness had meant a surprise call-up for Colchester fitness instructor Chris Smith in the number four rubber against Guildford's powerful hitter Mick Biggs.
Lack of confidence saw the Lexden player drop the first two games, although a change in tactics was enough to enable him to win the third game decisively, the effort of the first two games and the pressure of the occasion were too much even for the super fit Smith, and Biggs took the match 1-3.
Tek Sing's player-manager Tony 'the Tiger' Hands faced Stacey Ross in the number two rubber and looked comfortably in control until an incident in the second game when Ross's racket connected with Hands' eye.
Although little physical damage was done Hands' concentration was shattered and he was unable to lift his performance back to the consistent level of the first game.
In a match of shifting fortunes the Guildford player ran out the victor 3-2, to level the tie at 2-2.
But it was left to Evans to step-up and win the tie for the current reigning league champions
Published Friday, January 31, 2003
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