Glasgow snatched a point at the last moment in a “bittersweet” match at Workington tonight.
The Tigers’ top two of Richard Lawson and Nick Morris combined in the final heat to pull the side within six of their hosts for 48-42.
That gave them one away point which could prove vital in the run-in for the League Cup.
Team manager Stewart Dickson was frustrated to see his side lose their lead and the match, but insists that his men will be ready when Edinburgh come calling in Glasgow tomorrow afternoon.
Dickson said: “We’re a big scalp now and we’ve got a target on our back. I was a wee bit disappointed but with that 5-1 in heat 15, the point could prove very significant – you just don’t know. That’s what I said to the boys going into heat 15.
“I thought that with Workington having to go with a reserve in heat 11, 12 and 14 – no disrespect to them – we had a chance to capitalise on it. But they hit us with a couple of unexpected results before we even got into the last four heats. All of a sudden, you find yourself 10 down – so I think you’ve got to find yourself quite happy to get a point in those circumstances.
“Workington are no mugs on their own patch and we didn’t underestimate them at all. We threw away a couple of silly points around heats nine, 10 and 11. But we showed a wee bit of character to get us back.
“It’s a bittersweet moment.”
Tough Challenge
The Tigers’ night got off to the worst possible start when the Comets raced to a 5-1 in heat one.
But the visitors fought back through reserves Victor Palovaara and James Sarjeant with a 5-1 of their own.
A 4-2 in heat three from Morris and Dimitri Berge put the Tigers two points ahead, a lead they maintained until heat nine as the sides shared 3-3s.
But when Workington riders headed home the next six heats, they went 10 points ahead and made it impossible for the visitors to make any inroads.
However, Morris and Lawson produced an unlikely 5-1 in heat 15 to finish six behind the Comets – Morris finishing top scorer on 12.
The Monarchs come to the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium tomorrow in what is undoubtedly the biggest derby meeting for a couple of seasons, as both sides challenge for top spot in their cup group.
Dickson added: “It’s the first time that both teams have been at the summit of their League Cup section.
“I’m not going to play it down – it is massive for both teams – and that’s why I think there’ll be a massive crowd tomorrow. The forecast five days ago would tell you this meeting was going to be on.
“I think it’ll be a humdinger of a meeting. We came through tonight unscathed injury-wise and getting a point gave us a wee lift, a wee spring in our step as we left.
“We move onto tomorrow now and we will be raring to go come 3pm, I can assure you.”
Tigers scorers tonight: Nick Morris 12, Richard Lawson 8+2, Aaron Summers 7, Kozza Smith 5+1, James Sarjeant 4+3, Victor Palovaara 4+1, Dimitri Berge 2.