The Machine, still smarting over their slaughter at Peterborough on Wednesday night, seemed in a more determined mood, backed by the blessing of the Rev Feast before the meeting got under way.

Peter Karlsson proved an able deputy for the injured Greg Hancock with paid 12 points, backed by a much more solid all-round display from the rest.

A real boost for the home side was the return to form of Travis McGowan despite being dumped in the air fence in the opening heat. He recovered well to finish second in the re-run and looked a different rider until an engine problem denied him third place in heat ten.

When Tom Madsen and Henka Gustafsson took the second heat 5-1, there was a real promise in the air for the success-starved Oxford fans.

The Pirates hit back to level matters, before the two Danes, Jesper Jensen and Niels Kristian Iversen, gave Oxford a further boost with a maximum in heat five.

It was nip and tuck as the excellent Kzrysztof Karpzrak and Antonio Lindback brought the visitors right back into it, but the reply was in the positive from the home side as McGowan and Gustafsson rammed in another 5-1.

Poole, looking to land their third title in a row this term, were getting worried as Jensen enjoyed a much better meeting, and with Karlsson inflicting the first defeat in seven outings on Kaspzrak, the Machine maintained their six-point lead going into heat 13.

Stefan Andersson rode his most brilliant race so far when hauling back Bjarne Pedersen for a famous victory, bringing the home side one step closer to an unlikely victory.

Soon after that it was all over despite Poole taking the chequered flag. The minor placings for Gustafsson, who had another excellent night, and Iversen was enough to give Oxford a victory the fans hardly expected.

It was left to Karlsson to finish off in style in the final heat.