PETERBOROUGH crashed out of the Knock Out Cup – on a night a misery.
And to make things even worse the Readypower Panthers surrendered their proud unbeaten home record as they sunk to a 43-47 defeat against Belle Vue.
It ended hopes of silverware as the Aces went through to a semi final tie against Lakeside on aggregate 97-83.
It was the home side’s worst performance of the season as the Manchester club had too much in reserve, literally!
And that was the difference between defeat and the chance of glory.
Team boss Wayne Swales said: “That’s not a nice way to end the season really with a surprise defeat as well.
“I know you take every meeting as it comes but we would have expected to have come out of that with a win to be honest.
“We lost it at reserve tonight, our two got one point from eight rides while the Belle Vue reserves got 15 paid 17 and that’s the difference.
“We didn’t expect Hans to come back and get 12s and 14s so we can’t blame him for it. The two reserves just didn’t even look like scoring points tonight and that’s a real surprise because they’ve had some excellent meetings.
“Heat 2 they just couldn’t get going and ultimately that cost us.
“If there is a plus from this evening it’s the performance of Michael Jepsen Jensen. He blew an engine it what looked to be his easiest ride and once he was dialled in he looked excellent and he’s certainly going to be a pivotal member of the side next year.”
Jepsen’s seven points included two races wins and an engine failure on the line and the only opponent to beat him fair and square was an inspired Chris Harris.
But the teenage Dane had his revenge in Heat 6 when he cleverly withstood all the Great Britain skipper’s efforts to pass him to have the grandstand on their feat.
Sadly it was an isolated high point in an otherwise depressing night against a depleted Aces’ squad that fully deserved to go through to the last four and to win on the night.
Troy Batchelor, Krzysztof Buczkowski and Linus Sundström were all paid for double figures but title-winning hero Hans Andersen had a miserable Showground return.
He failed to get off the start in the opening heat and didn’t claim a race win on his return.
But it was the lack of a contribution at six and seven that swung the tie and leaves the Panthers to try and maintain their 100% Elite League home record when Swindon complete the season’s competitive calendar on a date yet to be confirmed.
PETERBOROUGH 43: Troy Batchelor 11:1, Krzysztof Buczkowski 10:2, Linus Sundström 9:1, Michael Jepsen Jensen 7, Hans Andersen 5, Dakota North 1, Kacper Gomolski 0.
BELLE VUE 47: Chris Harris 16, Lukasz Jankowski 8:1, Ricky Kling 7:1, Patrick Hougaard 7:1, Jordan Frampton 5:2, Richard Hall 4:1, rider replacement for Rory Schlein.