High-flying JT/Fox Oxford Cheetahs clawed their way past the Panthers to maintain their dominance at the top of the Sky Sports Elite League with a superb 53-37victory at Oxford Stadium last night.

The fact that Poole also won, beating Coventry, prompted team manage Colin Meredith to say: "They really did us a favour, because neither of them has made any ground on us and we still have the four matches in hand."

Andrew Appleton roars to victory in heat two last night

Guest Martin Dugard proved the star on his return to his Cowley with a superb 12-point maximum, but declined a ride in the final heat, saying: "If the meeting had not been won, I would have gone in, but I'm still a little sore from a slipped disc last week."

Dugard and Leigh Adams put world champ Mark Loram in his place with some great action in front of the TV cameras, and Andrew Appleton continued his fine form with some telling blows.

Todd Wiltshire and, to a lesser degree, Brian Andersen were a little out of touch, although Anderson's heat 13 win over Loram and Sullivan, had him rocking and rolling again in front of the fans.

Steve Johnston played a skipper's role with a gutsy display and will be looking forward to tonight's encounter at his former club Ipswich.

However, it was Appleton who set the fans alight as he and Johnston wiped the floor with the Panthers pair in heat two. The Reading-based youngster, who is really finding his feet now, rode another stormer in heat seven where he passed Matej Ferjan to join Adams for maximum points.

In between, Dugard again showed why he is one of the best riders of the Sandy Lane circuit with back-to-back wins, and he was leading in his third ride before world champion Loram picked up some drive at the top bend and went smashing into his teammate Nigel Sadler. Thankfully both recovered, with Loram being excluded as the primary cause of the stoppage.

The break made little difference to Dugard, who resumed his pole position as Cheetahs took a 34-20 lead with the interval just a heat away.

Panthers' team manager Phil Wing was forced to bring in a tactical sub in heat eight, where the choice was Sullivan, but Johnson rode like a demon to outwit his fellow country- man.

The desperate visitors brought in their big guns as Loram joined Sullivan as a tactical sub after the break, but Adams never looked in danger as he kept the world champion at bay with some ease.

Dugard gave a master class in heat 12 as he came from third to first in brilliant style which meant Cheetahs needed just one point for victory.

Andersen promoptly obliged to see off Loram and Sullivan with a super-charged display to send the crowd wild.

Dryml and Appleton suffered a 5-1 beating in the penultimate heat, but Adams and Johnston repaired the damage to an extent in the final heat as Cheetahs top man again showed Loram his exhaust and Johnston again rode a cracker to reel in Sullivan.

Oxford: Dugard 12, Adams 12, Johnston 9+2, Andersen 6+1, Wiltshire 6+1, Appleton 5+1, Dryml 3+1. 53 pts.

Peterborough: Loram 11, Sullivan 9, Parker 7, Ferjan 4, Howe 2, Jirout 2, Sadler 2. 37 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Sullivan,Andersen, Wiltshire, Jirout. 59.2 secs.

Heat 2: Appleton, Johnston, Sadler, Howe. 60.3.

Heat 3: Dugard, Parker, Ferjan, Dryml (f). 60.4.

Heat 4: Adams, Loram, Johnston, Howe. 58.9.

Heat 5: Dugard, Sullivan Jirout, Dryml (ret). 59.2.

Heat 6: Loram, Wiltshire, Andersen, Sadler. 59.8.

Heat 7: Adams, Appleton, Ferjan, Parker. 60.0.

Heat 8: Johnston, Sullivan (ts), Jirout, Wiltshire. 60.2.

Heat 9: (re-run) Dugard, Dryml, Sadler, Loram (f/exc). 61.9.

Heat 10: Wiltshire, Ferjan, Parker, Andersen. 61.2.

Heat 11: Adams, Loram (ts), Sullivan, Appleton. 60.5.

Heat 12: Dugard, Johnston, Parker, Ferjan. 61.6.

Heat 13: Andersen, Loram, Sullivan, Adams. 61.5.

Heat 14: Parker, Howe, Dryml, Appleton. 62.1.

Heat 15: Adams, Loram, Johnston, Sullivan. 60.3.