PLYMOUTH 50, PANTHERS 40: PETERBOROUGH missed out on a second semi-final appearance as they bowed out of the Premier League KO Cup tonight (Friday) despite a battling second leg display from a depleted side.
The 'TC Harrison' Panthers - without number one Ryan Fisher (a former Plymouth rider) and their two regular reserves Joe Jacobs and injured Ollie Greenwood - were eventually put to the sword by back-to-back 5-1s in the latter stages.
They travelled to the St Boniface Arena in possession of just a two-point advantage following the first leg at the East of England Showground on Tuesday (June 3) and it quickly became clear that this would be another tight contest.
The teams were never separated by more than four points on the night until Plymouth delivered their two big blows late on.
Star-of-the-tie Ben Barker, who dropped only one point in the first leg before roaring to a five-ride maximum tonight, led home Rasmus Jensen in heat 13 before Sam Simota and Kyle Newman, who have both had brief spells as Peterborough riders, followed suit in the penultimate race to settle the issue.
That left a Panthers side spearheaded by Ales Dryml and skipper Ulrich Ostergaard - and featuring a new-look reserve partnership of guests Dan Halsey and Ben Hopwood - no time to respond.
Operations manager Neil Watson, who took charge tonight, said: "The guys battled hard all night at a very tough place, but unfortunately we had no time to come back from Plymouth's two 5-1s in the closing stages.
"None of the guys let us down tonight. Everyone worked hard for the cause on and off the track and I must give a special mention to our guests, Dan and Ben, in that regard.
"We had hoped to travel to Plymouth in possession of a bigger advantage on aggregate and we have to admit the tie was lost on Tuesday at the Showground."
Panthers now switch their attention to Premier League matters as they prepare to host East Anglian derby rivals Ipswich on Tuesday (7.30pm).
They haven't raced in the league since losing 55-40 at Ipswich in mid-May.
SCORES:
PLYMOUTH: Ben Barker 15, Sam Simota 13, Rasmus Jensen 12+2, Kyle Newman 8+2, James Shanes 2+1, Kalle Katajisto 0 (withdrawn), Rider replacement for Adam Roynon.
'TC HARRISON' PANTHERS: Ales Dryml 11+4, Ulrich Ostergaard 11, Lewis Blackbird 8, Lasse Bjerre 5+2, Daniel Halsey 4, Ben Hopwood 1+1, Rider replacement for Ryan Fisher.