Belle Vue Aces 42, Oxford Cheetahs 48

Oxford Cheetahs are just win away from claiming their first major league honour for 12 years, following their nervy Sky Sports Elite League victory over Belle Vue in Manchester last night.

Todd WiltshireCheetahs' fourth maximum of the night, in the penultimate heat, sealed the victory that leaves them needing three points from their last three matches to claim the Elite League trophy.

There was to be none of the drama endured at Eastbourne 48 hours earlier, as the Cheetahs took the early advantage with a maximum in the first heat, thanks to the superb pairing of Brian Andersen and

Todd Wiltshire.

The Aces hit straight back in the second, but it still left the Cheetahs two points up and they guarded their advantage jealously all night.

Andersen and Wiltshire scorched to their second maximum in the fifth, putting the Cheetahs six points up.

Heat eight saw the Aces draft in Jason Lyons, but he was against the unbeaten Wiltshire.

However, Wiltshire hit a nasty patch on the track, which made him rear and fall awkwardly.

Lyons had been in hot pursuit but somehow managed to avoid a nasty incident. Wiltshire was excluded, giving the Aces only their second heat advantage of the night.

Cheetahs went eight points clear in heat ten when Leigh Adams and Steve Johnston scored a maximum, and it looked as though the visitors were going to run away with the meeting.

No-one should underestimate the Aces, however. In heat 12, a double tactical substitute was used to good effect, with the Cheetahs being outfoxed on the first two bends and the Aces got their only maximum of the night.

With the gap down to four, the pressure started to mount and this was increased in heat 13 when the Aces Peter Karlsson beat Adams. With guest Mark Loram coming third, the lead was cut to just two points.

Heat 14 called for the Cheetahs to be at their very best and once again it was down to Steve Johnston and Ales Dryml to deliver the goods.

There was high drama as Matej Ferjan had bike problems and was excluded under the two-minute rule. Out came fellow reserve Jedrezak, but as Ferjan had only had two rides, he could not be replaced.

It took some persuading at the line by the two Oxford team managers to let the heat start, but Johnston and Dryml came up trumps to take Cheetahs to the brink of a major trophy.

Belle Vue: M Loram 15, P Karlsson 10+2, J Lyons 10, M Ferjan 3, K Laukkanen 2+1, T Topinka 1+1, T Jedrezak 1.

Oxford: L Adams 15, T Wiltshire 11, A Dryml 7+3, S Johnston 7+1, B Andersen 6+4, W Carter 2.