PROUD Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone hailed a magnificent triumph at title rivals Edinburgh as the club’s best result yet on the road.
The Readypower Panthers racked up an incredible SEVENTH success of the season on their travels when snatching a dramatic 45-44 win at Armadale on Friday night.
New number one Robert Lambert and top-scoring guest Ricky Wells packed the minor places in a last-heat decider to preserve Panthers’ narrow advantage and clinch a victory that underlined their standing as genuine title contenders.
Delighted Rathbone said: “We’ve had some terrific results on the road, but this is probably the pick of the bunch.
“To go to a tough place like Edinburgh with two of our most influential riders out injured and win is brilliant.
“I cannot praise the guys enough. They all contributed to a great result on another memorable night for Peterborough Speedway.”
The lead changed hands on numerous occasions during a tension-packed clash.
Panthers briefly hit the front on a couple of occasions during the early stages of the meeting thanks to 5-1s.
The first arrived in heat two as Rafal Konopka continued his recent habit of winning the reserves’ battle – with guest Matthew Wethers in tow on this occasion.Another maximum from the Wells and Lambert combination heat five then enabled them to edge ahead again.
The lead was quickly surrendered in controversial circumstances when Edinburgh were awarded a 5-0 in the next race as Konopka and Wethers both hit the deck in the same part of the track a lap apart when suffering from a lack of vision due to low sunlight with then forced a delay to the action.
But Panthers recovered from that blow to remain hot on the tails of the reigning champions before the terrific duo of Wells and Lambert saw them hit the front again in heat 11.
Once more the Monarchs rallied but the decisive Panthers move came in heat 14 when Michael Palm Toft zoomed past Robert Branford to inspire a 4-2 that earned them the narrowest of advantages.
And they successfully preserved that one-point cushion in the finale when Lambert and Wells were content to follow in Cook after Kevin Wolbert had gone too wide in the opening corner.
Rathbone added: “The fantastic team spirit shone through again. It has been a constant in a season where we have been affected by injuries so badly, and had to track so many different riders.
“Ricky could not speak highly enough of the mood in the camp and the way everyone pulled together to make sure we got the win.
“I’m in no doubt that the great atmosphere and work ethic off the track is worth points on it.”
The victory allowed Panthers to close the gap on second-placed Edinburgh – and fellow joint leaders Glasgow – to just two points.
Panthers and the Monarchs meet again at the East of England Showground on Sunday (5pm).
SCORES
EDINBURGH: Craig Cook 15, Kevin Wolbert 11+1, Justin Sedgmen 9+2, Erik Riss 4+1, Rob Branford 3, Max Clegg 2, Rider replacement for Sam Masters.
READYPOWER PANTHERS: Ricky Wells (guest) 15+1, Robert Lambert 9+2, Michael Palm Toft 7+1, Lewis Blackbird 6, Matthew Wethers (guest) 5+2, Rafal Konopka 3, Rider replacement for Emil Grondal.