SWINDON Robins made it three wins in the space of a week as they took a hold of fourth place with a 50-43 win away to Lakeside Hammers.

In a nip and tuck night, where Swindon were 15 points behind early on, it took until the last heat to decide the outcome with the visitors coming out on top.

There were a host of changes for Swindon in Essex, as they kept just three of their original septet.

Aussie ace Nick Morris and reserve Lewis Rose were ruled out through injury and both Eduard Krcmar and Charles Wright were unavailable due a clash of fixtures.

Lewis Blackbird, a small track specialist, was called in for Krcmar, with Carl Wilkinson deputising for Wright at reserve along with Rob Branford who rode well in the home win over the Hammers on Thursday night.

Meanwhile there were also two changes for the hosts, with Peter Swiderski, guesting for the injured Mikkel Bech, and Ben Morley coming in at reserve.

As the sun set on the track it was the Hammers who took the early advantage as they took a maximum in heat one with Andreas Jonsson and Swiderski leading home Ward and Blackbird.

Branford got the better start of heat two but he went too deep into the corner and was beaten underneath by Morley, before being taken by Wilkinson.

Ellis fell on the third bend before getting back on his bike to finish last.

Troy Batchelor got a lightning start in heat three but he was beaten out of the fourth bend in lap one by Jonsson, with Edward Kennett beating Grzegorz Zengota to third spot to extend their early lead to six points.

Ellis closed the door on Branford from the start of heat four to take the lead ahead of Lawson, who was taken by Zengota down the back straight before regaining second spot for a second maximum of the night.

Blackbird made a good start in heat five but he was forced to fight for the lead for the rest of the first lap before conceding to Swiderski.

Wilkinson fell on the third bend to be left at the back as the hosts extended their lead to 15 points.

With the meeting getting away from the Robins, they chose to give Ward the tactical ride in heat six and it worked out perfectly.

The Aussie made a strong start, before Batchelor passed him down the back straight.

The two combined well to keep the lead, before Ward took the chequered flag for six points to haul the Robins back into things with an 8-1 maximum.

Swindon closed the gap to just one point with a maximum in heat seven, as Zengota led Ward home, with the Aussie just pipping Jonsson to the line.

Heat eight started a run of four shared heats as Lawson took the lead out of the first two bends but the Robins riders teamed up well to take a share of the points, with Wilkinson coming ahead of Blackbird.

After rolling at the start of heat nine, Zengota gated well in the re-start before shutting the door on Swiderski. However, Branford was left struggling at the back.

In heat 10 Ward was forced wide in the first two bends, but showed his speed out of bend two to take the win, but again was not supported as Kennett and Lawson followed him home ahead of Blackbird.

Jonsson gated well in heat 11 and Blackbird tried to go underneath him in bends one and two but couldn't make the move stick, as he was followed home by Batchelor.

Ellis took the lead in heat 12 the lead into the back straight and Wilkinson and Bamford closed the door on Morely to split the points.

Swindon took control of the meeting as they the Aussies Ward and Batchelor combined for a maximum over Jonsson and Swiderski to put them ahead for the first time in the evening.

Lawson did well for the hosts in heat 14 to hold off Zengota and Batchelor, but with Kennett struggling with his bike at the back Swindon went into the final heat with a three point advantage.

The two Aussies of Batchelor and Ward knew their lines perfectly in heat 15 as they teamed up to come out in front on the back straight and never looked back to wrap up the seven point win.

LAKESIDE HAMMERS: Andreas Jonsson (3,3,1,3,1) 11, Piotr Swiderski (2*,3,2,0,RX) 7+1, Edward Kennett (1,1,RX,2,0) 4, Richard Lawson (2*,0,3,1*,3) 9+2, R/R, Ben Morley (3,1,1*) 5+1, Adam Ellis (0,3,0,3) 6

SWINDON ROBINS: Darcy Ward (1,6^,2*,3,3,2*) 17+2, Lewis Blackbird (0,2,1*,0,2) 5+1, R/R, Grzegorz Zengota (0,1,3,3,2) 9, Troy Batchelor (2,2*,1*,2*,1*,3) 11+4, Carl Wilkinson (2,0,2,2) 6, Robert Branford (1*,0,0,1*) 2+2