Awful Aces lose again
Belle Vue lose out again; Panthers snatch win
Last Updated: May 22, 2012 1:33pm
Timo Lahti: Brilliant form for Eastbourne (Pic credit Mike Hinves)
Belle Vue Aces' miserable start to the season continued as they lost their seventh match in succession with a home defeat to Eastbourne Eagles.
The Manchester outfit started brightly at Kirkmanshulme Lane and were ten points up after six heats.
RESULTS AND SCORERS:
BELLE VUE 45
Chris Harris11+1, Charlie Gjedde 9, Patrick Hougaard 7, Ales Dryml 6+1, Linus Eklof 5, Artur Mroczka 4+1, Josh Grajczonek 3+1
EASTBOURNE 47
Timo Lahti 16, Mads Korneliussen 10, Simon Gustafsson 8+1, Cameron Woodward 6+3, Lewis Bridger 5+1, Lukas Dryml 1, Denis Gizatullin 1
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PETERBOROUGH 51
Kenneth Bjerre 13+1, Linus Sundstrom 13+1, Richard Lawson 9+2, Michael Jepsen Jensen 8+1, Lasse Bjerre 5+1, Jason Bunyan 3, Olly Allen 0
BIRMINGHAM 42
Danny King 9+1, Sebastian Ulamek 9, Ben Barker 7, Simon Stead 6, Martin Smolinski 5+2, Josh Auty 5+1, Tomasz Piszcz 1
But Eastbourne - who are now just a point off top spot - came back strong and inspired by reserve Timo Lahti, who for the second match running top-scored for the Eagles, roared to a 47-45 win.
The young Finn scored an outstanding 16 as he took all seven rides to help Eastbourne claim maximum spoils.
Eastbourne guest Mads Korneliussen also hit double figures as they claimed three 5-1s in the final four heats to claim victory.
Belle Vue had their own guest in the shape of Chris Harris and he top scored with paid 12, but he was the only home rider to hit double figures.
Eastbourne boss Trevor Geer could hardly contain his delight at his sides first away victory of the campaign.
"I couldn't be more proud of every one of the lads and as for Timo (Lahti) and yet another match winning performance, well I think we truly have a star in the making," he said.
"For a time it appeared that the Aces might hold all the cards and having gone 10-points up, there was a possibly that they might have run away with things.
"But the lads got their heads down, got stuck in and thanks to that stunning run of 5-1's in the closing stages, that is what saw us through. Seriously, I couldn't be more delighted with all of them."
Panthers delight
Peterborough maintained their 100 per cent home record with a 51-42 win over Birmingham Brummies at the East of England Showground.
Young Swede Linus Sundstrom was the star of the show for The Panthers with paid 14, a tally matched by his skipper and GP star Kenneth Bjerre.
Reserve Richard Lawson was also in superb form his paid 11, and he was forced into extra rides as Olly Allen was injured in his first outing - making Peterborough's win all the more impressive.
Indeed The Panthers were behind with three heats remaining, but three consecutive 5-1s gave the home side a memorable win.
Co-boss Jan Staechmann said: "I've always said we've got a good team spirit, and I think we showed everyone that we do.
"Richard was fantastic, to get anyone to do four on the bounce is a big ask, but he realised something was wrong and swapped bikes, and he contributed two 5-1s which we wouldn't have dreamed of. It was damage limitation then, so for him to pop out like he did and for us to get all the points is fantastic. He very much deserved the man of the the match.
"Unfortunately I don't think Olly will be fit for the rest of the week - obviously we hope he will, but we'll have to wait and see."
