Post by teessidetransporters on May 1, 2015 21:02:57 GMT
Teesside secured a 47-43 win over top of the table Wantage Kings, but were denied a bonus point which would have taken them clear at the top instead the visitors remain a point clear.
But Teesside were left thinking what could have been had it not been for an early injury to in-form second stringer Martin Greer. Greer went down in the opening heat and a shoulder injury ruled him out, and he is unlikely to ride again this season.
Top reserve Janek Bartousek did his best to fill the void but because he had to take up his seven rides replacing Greer, it meant he was unable to take a ride off Corey Gatlin - which has become he norm and somewhat of a banker for Teesside.
To further frustrate the home side, skipper Niko Weckman shed a chain after making the gate in heat 13 and gifted a heat advantage to the Kings.
But still the majority of the fantastic 1,000 plus crowd went home happy as the home side's talent still saw them home with Roberto Asanovic, Jack Hagan and Bartousek all hitting double figures.
Team boss Graeme Bailey said: "We are left cursing our luck but it was still a great meeting and that is speedway, Wantage are very good side and it was never going to be easy so in the end winning with basically a five-man team is still a wonderful effort.
"Promotion is still in our own hands and the guys are firmly focused on our meeting with Blunsdon and Milton Keynes. We started the season with one thing in mind, promotion - and that has not changed."
TEESSIDE TRANSPORTERS 47 (89)
1. Nico Weckman.............. 3 3 2 R - - - 8
2. Martin Greer.............. F - - - - - - 0 (I)
3. Jack Hagen................ 3 2 2 3 1 - - 11
4. Arlo Evaristo............. 2* 1* 1* 2 - - - 6+3
5. Roberto Asanovic.......... 2 3 1* 2 3 - - 11+1
6. Janek Bartousek........... 3 2* 0 2 0 2 1* 10+2
7. Corey Gatlin.............. 0 0 0 1 - - - 1
WANTAGE KINGS 43 (91)
1. Joe Finch................. 2 3 3 1 0 - - 9
2. Uwe Asche................. 1* 0 3 0 - - - 4+1
3. Nils Olsen................ 0 1* 3 2 - - - 6+1
4. Anton Komac............... 1 2 1 3 - - - 7
5. Lars Meldgaard............ 3 1 3 3 2 - - 12
6. Bradley Foster............ 2 0 0 - - - - 2
7. Justin Fitch(g)........... 1* 1 1 0 0 - - 3+1
But Teesside were left thinking what could have been had it not been for an early injury to in-form second stringer Martin Greer. Greer went down in the opening heat and a shoulder injury ruled him out, and he is unlikely to ride again this season.
Top reserve Janek Bartousek did his best to fill the void but because he had to take up his seven rides replacing Greer, it meant he was unable to take a ride off Corey Gatlin - which has become he norm and somewhat of a banker for Teesside.
To further frustrate the home side, skipper Niko Weckman shed a chain after making the gate in heat 13 and gifted a heat advantage to the Kings.
But still the majority of the fantastic 1,000 plus crowd went home happy as the home side's talent still saw them home with Roberto Asanovic, Jack Hagan and Bartousek all hitting double figures.
Team boss Graeme Bailey said: "We are left cursing our luck but it was still a great meeting and that is speedway, Wantage are very good side and it was never going to be easy so in the end winning with basically a five-man team is still a wonderful effort.
"Promotion is still in our own hands and the guys are firmly focused on our meeting with Blunsdon and Milton Keynes. We started the season with one thing in mind, promotion - and that has not changed."
TEESSIDE TRANSPORTERS 47 (89)
1. Nico Weckman.............. 3 3 2 R - - - 8
2. Martin Greer.............. F - - - - - - 0 (I)
3. Jack Hagen................ 3 2 2 3 1 - - 11
4. Arlo Evaristo............. 2* 1* 1* 2 - - - 6+3
5. Roberto Asanovic.......... 2 3 1* 2 3 - - 11+1
6. Janek Bartousek........... 3 2* 0 2 0 2 1* 10+2
7. Corey Gatlin.............. 0 0 0 1 - - - 1
WANTAGE KINGS 43 (91)
1. Joe Finch................. 2 3 3 1 0 - - 9
2. Uwe Asche................. 1* 0 3 0 - - - 4+1
3. Nils Olsen................ 0 1* 3 2 - - - 6+1
4. Anton Komac............... 1 2 1 3 - - - 7
5. Lars Meldgaard............ 3 1 3 3 2 - - 12
6. Bradley Foster............ 2 0 0 - - - - 2
7. Justin Fitch(g)........... 1* 1 1 0 0 - - 3+1