Oxford Cheetahs 46,

Belle Vue Aces 44

ENGLAND international Joe Screen deserves an Oscar after guiding Oxford Cheetahs to a drama-packed final heat victory in front of the Sky TV cameras in this Elite League clash at Oxford Stadium last night.

Screen and Todd Wiltshire were up against the Aces top pairing of Sam Tesar and Kau Laukkanen in the deciding heat.

Screen got a rare flier from the gate with Wiltshire third, but the Eastbourne star shut off Tesar who was flying round the outside and created a huge gap for Wiltshire who sped through to a great roar from the fans.

The Oxford fans were still reeling over the decision to allow Tesar in the Aces side and the fact that they were without Mark Lemon after he aggravated his ankle injury, while riding in Sweden.

His absence, added to that of Jimmy Nilsen, meant that Screen came in as guest and a rider-replacement was used for Lemon.

With rain threatening, the Aces gave Cheetahs an early shock as Tesar and Laukkanen shocked the home side as they relegated Wiltshire to third spot in the opener.

Ales Dryml soon recovered from his first race fourth to skate home in the next, and although Screen proved a star with victories in his opening two rides, the Aces took a 19-17 lead.

Wiltshire finally got his gating sorted in heat ten and was soon joined by the improving Lukas Dryml to see Oxford in front for the first time.

The lead was shortlived, as the Aces hit back in kind through Tesar and Laukkanen again.

When Johnston got unfairly booted out after a first bend bunching incident, the home side were up against it.

In the vital heat 13, Wiltshire busted a gut to get the upper hand to the first bend over Tesar and Lyons.

Staechmann and Lukas Dryml gave Oxford hope with a 4-2 victory in the penultimate heat, leaving everything resting on the final heat. Oxford: Wiltshire 11+1, Screen 10, L Dryml 9+2, Staechmann 7+2, Johnston 6+1, A Dryml 3. 46 pts.

Belle Vue: Laukkanen 11, Smith 9, Tesar 8, Lyons 7, Olsen 7, Doolan 1, Cunningham 1. 44 pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Tesar, Laukkanen, Wiltshire, A Dryml. 59.2 secs.

Heat 2: A Dryml, Olsen, Doolan, L Dryml. 61.2.

Heat 3: Smith, Staechmann, Johnston, Cunningham. 60.3.

Heat 4: Screen, L Dryml, Lyons, Doolan. 61.3.

Heat 5: Laukkanen, Johnston, Staechmann, Tesar. 60.7.

Heat 6: Lyons, Wiltshire, Olsen, L Dryml. 60.3.

Heat 7: Screen, Smith, Cunningham, A Dryml. 63.6.

Heat 8: Laukkanen, L Dryml, Staechmann, Doolan. 65.7.

Heat 9: Johnston, Lyons, Olsen, Staechmann (f) 64.3.

Heat 10: Wiltshire, L Dryml, Smith, Cunningham. 64.3.

Heat 11: Tesar, Laukkanen, Screen, A Dryml. 62.9.

Heat 12: (re-run) Smith, L Dryml, Olsen, Johnston (f/exc). 62.9.

Heat 13: Wiltshire, Tesar, Lyons, Screen. 62.7.

Heat 14: Staechmann, Olsen, L Dryml, Doolan. 62.5.

Heat 15: Screen, Wiltshire, Laukkanen, Tesar. 62.0.