Poole Pirates 46, Oxford Silver Machine 44: THE new-look Oxford Silver Machine can count themselves unlucky to come away from Poole without any Elite League points on Wednesday night.

Charlie GjeddeIn a cracking meeting, the home side went ahead only twice all night - in the first and the last heat.

Oxford took the lead in heat two as the reserve pairing of Charlie Gjedde and Travis McGowan raced to a maximum heat advantage.

The Pirates drew level in the next, but another maximum was on its way.

Again it was Gjedde who stole the show, while new man Greg Hancock showed why he is going to be so popular with the Oxford faithful. Instead of racing off ahead of his teammate, he sat in second place and made sure that the full five points came Oxford's way.

It gave the Silver Machine a four-point cushion, but the Pirates plugged away and by heat six it was all square again.

Oxford had the opportunity to move ahead again in heat eight, but were denied by a dubious refereeing decision. Gjedde made the gate and was away, while Andy Smith was brought down by Andrew Appleton. The referee took an age to put the red stops on and when he did, it was Smith he excluded.

The two sides were locked together until heat 11 when the Silver Machine went ahead again, 'that man' Gjedde to the fore. This time he was backed up by a less than fully fit Todd Wiltshire.

With Oxford four points up at the interval, another shared heat followed and then Poole drew level again in the 13th to put the pressure on the visitors.

Matej Ferjan and Gjedde completely missed the start in heat 14, but Ferjan soon powered around the outside to take the lead. Gjedde followed into third and was mighty close to getting second at the chequered flag. It meant that Oxford were two points up with one heat to go.

They lost the toss for gate positions and were always going to be up against it off two and four and against the former Oxford Cheetahs stars Leigh Adams and Lukas Dryml.

Hancock seemed to make the start, but the home pair were able to close him down and race off for a maximum last-heat win and the two league points.