With time fast running out on play-off qualification, the Allied Vehicles Tigers have cruelly lost out in a last heat decider tonight at Peterborough.
In what had been billed as a ‘must win’ meeting for both sides, it was the Tigers who looked brighter all night and managed to protect an early lead throughout. The home side slowly began to close the gap to level at 39-39 with just two heats remaining. Tero Aarnio won heat 14, and with Adam Ellis in third, Tigers held a narrow 2 point advantage entering the final heat decider.
Tigers team boss Stewart Dickson nominated Theo and Tero (up against Lasse Bjerre and Ulrich Ostergaard) for the final 4 laps, seeking to avoid a 1-5 to take something worthy of our efforts – however it was the Panthers pairing who held their nerve to snatch victory from a plucky Tigers side by 46-44.
An away win would have enhanced our late play-off place challenge, and helped us close in on 6th placed Newcastle before the cut-off date this coming Sunday night.
Theo Pijper, Rusty Harrison, Tero Aarnio and impressive guest reserve Adam Ellis all had heat wins around the very pacey East of England Showground circuit, however equally as important were the vital second and third places which limited Glasgow to just 5 last places on the night.
Next up for the Tigers is a visit to Edinburgh this Friday night (as the second meeting in a double header fixture) before hosting the Monarchs’ at Ashfield this Sunday (start time 5pm) in what will be the final league meeting for both sides to determine play-off placement and qualification. Only back-to-back derby wins for the Tigers will now be enough to preserve any remaining chance of our first play-off place finish.
Tigers scorers at Peterborough: Pijper 9, Aarnio 9, Ellis 9, Harrison 6, Lykke 6, Wolbert 4, Palovaara 1