ALUN Rossiter never takes anything for granted, as the Swindon Robins’ hard-fought home victory over the Lakeside Hammers last night proved.

The Abbey Stadium chief paid little attention to any suggestions that his team would romp to an easy victory in the build-up to the meeting – a third in four days for Swindon – and his caution was justified as the Robins were made to work for the spoils by a dogged Hammers outfit.

After a largely nip-and-tuck affair, the two teams were locked in a war of attrition for 10 heats before Swindon dug deep and hauled themselves to victory.

“When people say it’s going to be an easy one, you don’t listen. You never underestimate anybody,” said Rossiter.

“They ran us right to the end and, in fairness, it was only the last couple (of heats) where we were stronger and pulled away.

“It was the fact that people were thinking ‘oh it’s Lakeside and it’s easy’ but they came and really stuck it to us.

“You’ve got to give everybody the respect they deserve and fair play to Lakeside, they came at us and nearly got something.

“The track was a little bit not to the liking of the riders – it was a little bit hairy in places - but all in all, the boys pulled it back in the end.”

Darcy Ward’s class was one of the driving forces behind the Robins’ triumph, but it was another Australian, young guest Robert Branford, who provided the meeting’s crucial moment.

After Charles Wright withdrew before heat 13, succumbing to the injuries he sustained during Wednesday’s clash with the Poole Pirates, the 21-year-old was left to take on Paul Starke and Adam Ellis on his own.

But he dominated in stirring fashion and was awarded a fine victory after Hammers man Ellis crashed out.

Rossiter said: “Darcy was outstanding and Eduard (Krcmar) upped his game and showed his pace a bit.

“Really, the turnaround was heat 12, when Robert Branford got that win. That was so important.

“I know Branny quite well. He’s a friend of Nick Morris and he’s stayed with me a lot. I got in his ear and got stuck in to him and man, he just flew out of that gate.

“I was chuffed. I was jumping up and down like a kid. It was great to see.”

Branford also contributed to a heat two maximum for the Robins alongside Wright, whilst Ward and Troy Batchelor recorded another 5-1 in the seventh race of the evening. But the Hammers refused to lie down and the scores were level at 30 apiece after 10 heats.

Branford’s heroics in the 12th provided the impetus for a late Swindon charge and Ward and captain Batchelor came up with the goods once again in heat 13 when they dispatched Andreas Jonsson and Richard Lawson, blazing a trail to victory for the home side.

A quick reunion with Lakeside is on the cards as Rossiter’s troops make the trip to the Arena Essex Raceway tonight to end a gruelling week of Elite League action.

The Robins will be patched up however, with Carl Wilkinson guesting for Wright, Branford returning in place of Lewis Rose and Swindon filling in for the injured Nick Morris with the rider replacement system.

Lewis Blackbird will also ride in place of Eduard Krcmar, with the 19-year-old Czech missing the trip to Essex due to the only clash in his calendar this season.

“It’s going to be really hard. We haven’t got our best reserves,” said Rossiter.

“It’s going to be tough because Lakeside, on their own track, they’re very good. Losing Charles is a massive loss for us. He just completely stiffened up and was in a bad way.”

The Robins manager isn’t expecting Swindon to be feeling the pinch after a clutch of outings in quick succession, although he is far from impressed with the situation his team have been forced to contend with.

Rossiter added: “They get tired and it’s a long day because some of them are off to Poland on Saturday but they should deal with it.

“I don’t like the way the fixtures have been this year. We need to get some continuity in for next year.”