Oxford Cheetahs put up a spirited show but could not continue their recent revival in the Elite Speedway League at Brandon last night.

The Bees had a two-point advantage from the Oxford leg and were confident that they were going to pick up all three points on offer, but they were made to battle to the very last heat.

The home side started well and were four points up after the first two heats.

Heat three looked equally as tough, but a rejuvenated Steve Johnston and Ales Dryml scorched from the tapes to record a maximum win, despite the attentions of Paul Hurry, who eventually lost his third place to the tough-riding Johnston.

The Bees rallied in the next and put themselves back in front by two points, followed by a shared heat, before Oxford took control.

This time it was Leigh Adams and Mark Lemon's turn to record a maximum, with the pair team-riding to perfection to hold off Billy Hamill.

Cheetahs were now two points in front and they increased the margin thanks to the Johnston/Ales Dryml partnership who secured a 4-2. It needed a determined ride by Dryml to hold off the excellent Andreas Jonsson, becoming the only Oxford rider to beat him all night.

Coventry clawed their way back level by the interval, but Brian Andersen seemed to have heat 11 in the bag, with Jonsson rooted to the back. However, the Swede was in determined mood and grabbed the lead from Andersen on the final bend, putting the Bees two points up.

Two more points followed in heat 13 for the home side, leaving Cheetahs with it all to do in the last two heats.

Ales Dryml and Lemon lined up in heat 14 and Dryml had victory in the bag after a superb pass on Tomas Topinka. However, Lemon fell on the third lap and it looked like it was all over for the visitors.

Then, in an amazing turn of luck, Janniro also fell on the next bend and as Lemon had remounted, he was able to claim the third place and leave Oxford just two points down going into the final heat.

Adams and the in-form Johnston took to the line, but Oxford made a strange choice of gates after they had won the toss, picking the unfavoured inside, with Adams off gate one.

The tapes rose and the Bees' pair raced away, pulling out a big lead on the two Cheetahs to claim overall victory.