A star guest ruins Robins’ bid (From Swindon Advertiser)

A star guest ruins Robins’ bid

10:00am Tuesday 13th May 2008 in Sport By Owen Houlihan

A sparkling guest performance from British under 21 champion Tai Woffinden condemned Robins to a third straight away defeat in the Sky Sports Elite League last night.

Woffinden posted paid 10 as the Aces gained revenge for their home defeat by Swindon earlier in the season at Kirkmanhulme Lane.

And visiting chief Alun Rossiter admitted it didn't quite happen for his men as they saw their lead at the top of the table cut to a single point by Poole's televised success at Eastbourne.

Rossiter, who had strong words for referee Graham Flint after Troy Batchelor was fined for gesturing towards the official, conceded: "Our reserves did their job well, but we probably didn't have enough race winners.

"Travis (McGowan) rode well, but normally Mads (Korneliussen) pops out for us and that didn't happen.'' The injury-hit Aces were minus three regulars while Dane Jonas Raun was replacing Michal Rajkowski, who was released last week.

But Woffinden's effort proved crucial and left Rossiter insisting: "If we had ridden against their regular side, I think we would have taken it.

"We're not downbeat. We've got a tough match against Lakeside on Thursday, but we'll be in front of our own fans and we should be firing.

"It's disappointing because we'd targeted a win here and could have done with it, but it was not to be.'' Skipper Leigh Adams added yet another double-figure haul, although it took him until heat 11 to pick up his first win.

And Robins' cause was not helped by a number of falls, Korneliussen hitting the deck and being excluded in the the third heat and the same happening to Batchelor in controversial heat nine.

The young Aussie was excluded, despite maintaining he had been felled by former Blunsdon favourite Charlie Gjedde and the Dane's subsequent win of the rerun gave the home side a four-point cushion at the vital moment.

Nevertheless Swindon missed the chance to go into the final two heats level in the all-star 13th, as Adams and Batchelor, both passed Aces' star man Jason Crump, only for the former world champion and teammate Joe Screen to reel in Batchelor and ensure a shared heat.

McGowan then pushed Screen all the way in the penultimate race, the points again shared leaving Robins needing a 5-1 to win and 4-2 to tie in the final heat.

Adams got away well, only for Crump to pass him in the back straight, while McGowan got no change out of Gjedde at the back as the visitors were thwarted.