Losses Are Like Buses

I WENT 19 games unbeaten for Battersea - 20 if you count the internal club championship - but have now lost on consecutive evenings.

Black to make his 30th move  in Garik Mirzoyan (165) - Spanton (167)

*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
I am much better, probably winning, in this game for Battersea 3 away to King's College in division two of the Central London League last night (Wed).
30...Ra2?
Playing too quickly, as usual, I took the open file, which gives me a choice of attacking d3 or withdrawing to the back rank. It did not take me long to realise that correct was 30...Rc2. Then if White plays 31.Rh1, as in the game, Black has 31...Ke8 32.Rxh7 b5, and there is nothing to fear from 33.g6 as the c pawn is protected.
After the text, the position is equal.
31.Rh1 Ra8?
But now the position is lost for Black.
I rejected 31...Ra3 because of 32.Rxh7 Rxd3+ 33.Kf4 Ke8 34.g6 fxg6 35.Rxc7, missing that Black may well be OK after 35...Rd7.
Komodo9 and Stockfish10 give 31...Rc2 32.Rxh7+ Ke8 (Black's moves can be played in reverse order), when a draw follows 33.Rh8+ Ke7 34.Rh7 (threatening to play g6) Ke8 etc. Note that it is important for the Black rook to be on c2 to protect c7 in the event of White meeting ...Ke8 with g6.
32.Rxh7 Rf8
All moves lose, but this makes White's task easier.
33.g6 Ke8
And so does this, although 33...Ke7 34.g5 does not save Black, eg 34...b5 35.gxf7 Rxf7 36.g6.
34.g7 1-0
Updated statistics
Battersea 2018-19
Event...Colour...Grade...Opponent's Grade...Result
CLL.........B..........167...….........196..............…D
LL...…….B...…...167...………..159...………….D
CLL...…..B...…...167...………..161...………….W
CLL...…..B...…...167...………..190...………….D
LL...…….W...…..167...………..161...….………W
CLL...…..W...…..167...………..148...………….D
CLL...…..W...…..167...………..165...………….W
CLL...…..W...…..167...………..160...………….D
CLL...…..W...…..167...………..159...………….D
LL...…….B...…...167...………..168...………….D
LL...…….W...…..167...………..148...………….W
CLL...…..B...…...167...………..196...……….….L
CLL...…..B...…...167...………..165...…………..L
Overall this season for Battersea I have scored +4=7-2 for a grading performance of 175.
In season 2017-18 I scored +10=8-9 for a grading performance of 175.