Glasgow will take a 14 point lead to Sheffield for the second leg of this League Cup semi final after an eventful evening at Ashfield.
There were no hints of what was to come when both sides traded heat advantages to be level after heat 4. The main highlight being Nick Morris breaking the track record in heat 1.
Heat 5 saw the first casualty, when Ashley Birks, having passed James Sarjeant down the home straight at the end of the second lap, went too wide into the first bend and clipped the fence. After a delay he was taken off by ambulance, later being announced that he had possible shoulder injuries.
Heat 6 turned into a marathon. Glasgow looked set for an easy 5-1 with Sarjeant blasting around the outside of the opening bends, with Nick Morris alongside him. However it went all wrong on the third bend, with Norris getting too close to Sarjeant’s back wheel and fell akwardly on the 4th bend. After a short delay, in the re-run, it was Andre Compton who seemed to enter the third bend too quick and hit the fence. After an unsatisfactory start, Sarjeant eventually won the race at the 4th attempt, passing Arthur Sissis on the second bend.
Heat 7 saw more drama , with Jason Garrity trying an impossible move, flying into the third bend under Richard Lawson, then getting out of shape, being clipped by Lawson, with David Bellego then collecting Garrity’s bike as he tried to pass him. Both Sheffield riders walked away but Bellego would withdraw from the meeting. In the re-run, Josh Bates then lost it on the second bend, drawing another exclusion before Glasgow took an easy 5-0.
Any thoughts that the home side would build on this were put to the side when Sheffield reserves took an easy 5-1 in heat 8.
After a home 4-2 in heat 9, Garrity then had the ride of the night, racing around Sarjeant on the second lap only to fall off on the last bend, gifting another 4-2 to Glasgow. Sissis then spun on the opening bend of heat 11 and Glasgow had their third 4-2 in a row and now led by 8.
Heat 12 was drawn before Victor Palovaara passed Compton in heat 13 and another 4-2. Heat 14 was drawn before Richard Lawson and Aaron Summers took a 5-1 in heat 15 although Lawson almost fell off on the last bend after a mix up between the two on the last lap.
Glasgow will be happy with a 14 point lead which never looked on after heat 8 and down a heat leader. They were helped by some over enthusastic riding at times by the visitors which cost them a number of points, most notably in heats 6 and 7. Lawson and Summers only dropped a point each with Sarjeant chipping in with two wins. The reserves both won races but never looked entirely convincing and were easily outscored by their counterparts who both rode well.
It should make an interesting second leg.
League Cup SF 1st Leg
Glasgow 51
1 N Morris 3 FX 3
2 J Sarjeant 0 1′ 3 f 3 7+1
3 A Summers 3 2 3 3 2′ 13+1
4 D Howe R/R (2′ 1′ 1 3) (7+2)
5 R Lawson 2 2′ 3 3 3 3 16+1
6 V Palovaara 2 2′ 1 1 1 0 7+1
7 D Berge 0 R 3 1 1 0 5
8 R MacDonald DNR
Sheffield 37
1 J Grajczonek 2 3 2 2 0 9
2 A Birks 1′ FX 1+1
3 D Bellego 1 FNS 1
4 J Garrity 0 FX F 2 1 3
5 A Compton 3 FX 0 0 3
6 A Sissis 1 2 3 2 F 1′ 9+1
7 J Bates 3 1 FX 2′ 2 2 1′ 11+2
Heat 1: Morris, Grajczonek, Birks, Sarjeant 57.1 TR
Heat 2: Bates,Palovaara,Sissis, Berge 58.8
Heat 3: Summers, Palovaara(R/R),Bellego, Garrity 58.7
Heat 4: Compton, Lawson, Bates, Berge(EF) 59.0
Heat 5:(awarded) Grajczonek, Summers, Sarjeant(R/R), Birks FX no time
Heat 6: (3 re-runs) Sarjeant, Sissis, Compton FX, Morris FX 60.2
Heat 7: (2 re-runs) Berge, Lawson, Bates FX, Garrity FX, Bellego FNS 60.7
Heat 8: Sissis, Bates, Palovaara, Sarjeant F 60.5
Heat 9: Summers, Sissis, Berge(R/R), Compton 59.0
Heat 10: Sarjeant, Bates, Berge, Garrity F 60.2
Heat 11: Lawson, Grajczonek, Palovaara, Sissis F 59.9
Heat 12: Summers, Bates, Sissis, Berge 59.0
Heat 13: Lawson, Grajczonek, Palovaara, Compton 58.9
Heat 14: Lawson(R/R), Garrity, Bates, Palovaara 58.7
Heat 15: Lawson,Summers, Garrity, Grajczonek R 59.5