SWINDON Robins will have to bide their time in their efforts to leapfrog the Belle Vue Aces after they were beaten in a chaotic meeting in the North West tonight.

On what is set to be the Robins’ final visit to Kirkmanshulme Lane as the Aces prepare to move into their new £7 million stadium next season, reserve rider Stefan Nielsen was the Aces’ trump card on a dramatic evening that was constantly delayed in the latter stages due to a host of crashes and exclusions, and even an incorrect flag from the officials.

But the meeting ultimately ended in disappointment for Alun Rossiter’s men, who will remain outside of the play-off spots and behind their Manchester conquerors for the time being at least, despite picking up a losing bonus point.

Darcy Ward signalled his intent from the off with a classy heat one victory but reserve duo Charles Wright and Robert Branford got off to a difficult start as they were trounced by Nielsen and former Robin Steve Worrall, with the hosts recording the first maximum of the evening.

After Craig Cook failed to make the start line in time, Nick Morris and Troy Batchelor chalked up a 4-2 win in heat three but back came the Aces as Josh Gracjzonek and Nielsen racked up another 5-1 against Grzegorz Zengota and Branford.

Debutant Aaron Summers announced himself with a stirring victory in heat five, even if the race was drawn, and then skipper Batchelor and number one Ward dovetailed magnificently in a thrilling heat six, with the Robins duo besting Cook and Gracjzonek to reduce the deficit with the visitors’ first maximum.

Swindon number three Morris showed no ill-effects from his recent injury woes as he smartly avoided a tumble in heat seven whilst Zengota blazed to a race win whilst Summers limited the damage in heat eight as he smartly darted past Nielsen to prevent a 5-1 loss.

In the ninth, Belle Vue struck a crucial blow as Fricke and Worrall romped to another maximum against Zengot and Branford but Ward was the star of the show in heat ten.

Despite almost being sent sprawling coming out of the second bend, the Swindon ace stunned the home fans by somehow regaining his balance and streaking past Cook and Nicholls in style to ensure a drawn heat.

In the eleventh race of the night, there was more drama that left the home fans with hearts in mouths but this time, concern was the overriding emotion as the Aces’ Zagar and Fricke became entangled coming out of the first turn before crashing spectacularly – fortunately, both men were eventually able to walk away from the collision.

And that collision preceded a heat as frustrating for the Robins as it was inspiring for the home fans as Fricke launched himself straight back into the action and bested Batchelor and Morris to maintain his team’s advantage.

Manchester native Wright looked to be putting a previously difficult evening at his local track behind him in the 12th but he was overtaken by the in-form Nielsen during the final lap before the drama reached fever pitch in heat 13.

The Robins’ Ward seemingly slowed down and began remonstrating with the officials, leaving Nielsen, who head span out after the first turn before getting back on his bike, to chase him down.

The Belle Vue man almost nicked third place before it transpired that the yellow and black flag had been shown a lap too early, with a re-run ordered, much to the chagrin of the home supporters.

Ironically, further re-runs followed and when the race was finally completed, Ward and Batchelor served up a sensational maximum to make things interesting at 42-36.

But in the penultimate heat of the night, the hosts’ Cook and Zengota were both excluded for encroaching on the tapes as the drama continued to unfold.

In a first re-run, Worrall, who originally came in for Cook, was then excluded himself after a fall and that left Cook as the only eligible replacement, with riders and management from both teams left remonstrating on the track as the conclusion of the meeting was delayed further and further.

Cook began from a 15 metre disadvantage but then crashed out as the meeting raged on and eventually, Wright was left to take on Cook and Gracjzonek all on his own but a valiant display ended in disappointment as he was pipped in the penultimate lap.

With the chaos finally over, the Robins were at least left with a silver lining as the indomitable Ward and Batchelor combined at the last to seal a 4-2 win over Nicholls and Fricke in heat 15 to secure a bonus point for Rossiter’s men to take back down the M6.