RESERVE talent Oliver Greenwood roared to a first paid maximum at Premier League level to help Peterborough collect maximum points for the first time this season.
Greenwood was the star of a terrific Panthers showing with a 10+2 point haul from four rides at the East of England Showground, but a serious injury to Plymouth rider Kyle Newman took the shine off a resounding League Cup, Southern Group success.
Newman, who had a brief spell as a doubling-up rider for Panthers in 2012, suffered a suspected broken left leg when involved in a frightening back-straight crash during heat 12.
The Devils man was attempting to squeeze around the outside of Ales Dryml on the opening lap when coming to grief while taking a tactical ride. A long delay followed as Newman was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital.
Panthers were in control throughout as this clash was completed at the second attempt.
The initial staging had to be halted last month after a major power failure plunged much of the Showground into darkness, but there were no such hitches on this occasion.
Panthers powered ahead with two 5-1s and two 4-2s in the opening four races before their dominance was briefly interrupted as Ben Barker registered a first Devils success in heat five when producing a terrific first lap to squeeze round early leader Dryml.
The home advantage had grown to 20 points by the time Newman masterminded the only race advantage for Plymouth.
Newman took the chequered flag with a fine ride in heat 10 and inflicted a first defeat on Panthers number one Ryan Fisher, who paid the price for a sluggish start, in the process.
The American ace did collar Rasmus Jensen to grab second, but had no way of reeling in Newman.
The Devils then deployed two tactical rides in as many races.
Lasse Bjerre comfortably saw off Barker in heat 11 when clocking the fastest time of the night in a race that ended in a 4-4 before Newman saw his night come to a painful end in the next instalment.
Barker repaid the compliment to Bjerre by winning heat 13 to end the Panthers man’s hopes of a full maximum and the visiting number one again took the flag in a thrilling finale after a great battle with Fisher.
But it was Panthers who pocketed all three match points to boost their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
PANTHERS: Ryan Fisher 12, Lasse Bjerre 11+2, Oliver Greenwood 10+2 (paid max), Ulrich Ostergaard 9+2, Ales Dryml 9, Lewis Blackbird 4+2, Dan Halsey (guest) 3.
PLYMOUTH: Ben Barker 14, Kyle Newman 7, Kalle Katajisto 6, Rasmus Jensen 4+1, Sam Simota 2, Roland Benko 1+1, Ben Reade 0.