PETERBOROUGH were involved in an SGB Championship classic last night as they saw their unbeaten home record come to an end.
The 'T Balfe Construction' Panthers were pipped 47-43 by Newcastle in an East of England Arena clash that was heart-stopping and nail-biting in equal measure.
The two sides served up a feast of fantastic action for a bumper crowd with Peterborough ultimately coming up just short.
A lack of heat advantages (just three) and race wins (only six) proved to be their downfall against a visiting side inspired by the top-end scoring power of Robert Lambert and Steve Worrall.
The Diamonds’ big-hitters both went unbeaten until the final heat in which Panthers required a 5-1 to snatch a draw.
And despite Jack Holder brilliantly claiming both their scalps, the Newcastle men tucked in for the minor places to preserve their four-point cushion.
Team boss Carl Johnson said: “Obviously we are disappointed with the result, just as we are any time we lose a meeting, but it was a superb night of racing.
“The guys did a great job to turn the track around so quickly after 50-odd heats of racing earlier in the day, and it provided some absolutely superb speedway.
“We knew it was going to be tight against a powerful Newcastle team and that’s how it proved.
“We certainly didn’t want to see our unbeaten home record come to an end, but we’ll put it behind us and aim to bounce back.
“We just need to focus on getting out of the starts a bit quicker and sometimes be a bit harder on track.”
A brilliant opening battle between the two Lamberts – with Newcastle ace Robert giving chase to and eventually passing Panthers’ namesake Simon for victory – set the tone for a tremendous meeting.
A first Peterborough triumph for reserve Tom Bacon inspired a 4-2 in heat two that edged the hosts ahead, but Newcastle replied a couple of 4-2s of their own.
Two shared races followed before the teams exchanged 5-1s. Bradley Wilson-Dean and Kenneth Hansen roared clear in heat seven but Wilson-Dean was then on the receiving end as reserve guest James Shanes and former Peterborough man Ash Morris hit back immediately for the Diamonds.
That left the visitors two points ahead and they remained in that position until Lambert and Worrall claimed a 5-1 in heat 13.
Panthers refused to roll over with Wilson-Dean taking victory in a heat 14 4-2, but there was no dramatic late twist in a shared finale.
Peterborough return to action with a home clash against Berwick on Friday – the first of three meetings in as many days.
SCORES
PETERBOROUGH: Jack Holder 9+1, Bradley Wilson-Dean 9, Paul Starke 8+1, Kenneth Hansen 6+2, Ulrich Ostergaard 4+1, Simon Lambert 4+1, Tom Bacon 3.
NEWCASTLE: Robert Lambert 14, Steve Worrall 12+2, James Shanes (guest) 8, Lewis Rose 6+2, Ludvig Lindgren 5, Ash Morris 2+1, Connor Coles 0.
PICTURE: Peterborough rider Paul Starke and Newcastle man Ash Morris do battle last night (credit: DIANA JONES)