REACTION: “We rode well as a team tonight and it was a good confidence booster for us all to win on aggregate after being 12 points down from the first leg. Glasgow are a solid outfit, but we did the job.”

MONARCH Oxford Cheetahs recovered from a 12-point first leg deficit to grab a place in the Cab Direct Knockout Cup semi-finals, after a 54-36 victory over Glasgow Tigers at Oxford Stadium last night (Wednesday) secured a 93-87 aggregate victory.

It all came down to the final race, with Cheetahs two points ahead on aggregate and Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters streaked away for a 5-1, with Glasgow skipper Chris Harris was stranded at the back behind team-mate Steve Worrall.

Much of the hard work was done by Cheetahs earlier in the evening, on a night that contained some outstanding racing. 16-year-old Ashton Boughen suffered a nasty fall in Heat 2. He continued in the meeting, but failed to score in his two remaining outings. But the other six Cheetahs did not register a last place between them all evening.

While Nicholls and Masters both chipped in 12+1, it was the performance of the other riders that tipped the tie in the balance of Cheetahs.

Jordan Jenkins put machinery problems behind him to score 7+2, while both Cameron Heeps (8) and Henry Atkins (7+2) had easily their best meetings of the season. Luke Killeen (8+3) scored vital points for Cheetahs from reserve.

Cheetahs led by four points after seven races, but 5-1s from Atkins and Killeen in Heat 8, and Masters and Atkins in Heat 10 pulled it level on aggregate.

An astonishing four laps of speedway followed in Heat 11, with Nicholls just edging out old rival Harris, after the two passed and repassed.

Heat 12 was another terrific race, as Heeps repassed Flint to win the race, while Killeen also closed in and a blanket could be thrown over all three riders in a tight finish. The 4-2 to Cheetahs saw them move into the lead on aggregate.

Two shared races followed, before the final race 5-1 sent the crowd into raptures.

Jordan Jenkins said: “We rode well as a team tonight and it was a good confidence booster for us all to win on aggregate after being 12 points down from the first leg. Glasgow are a solid outfit, but we did the job

“I’ve been tearing my hair out every night and every morning, wondering how I’d gone from the rider I was last year to what was happening this year, and apologies to everyone for me being so poor. But mechanically we identified a problem. We rectified it ready for Glasgow last Friday and I scored paid 16 across the two legs, which is much better.

“My first race today got me going. I missed the start, but I felt I had the speed, made the moves stick and passed both the Glasgow riders to win the race.

“We’ve all had the odd good race this year, but tonight we all came together and performed as a team and the atmosphere in the pits was really good. We’ve got a good run of fixtures now and we just want to keep it going.”

Team manager Peter Schroeck said: “Despite the 12-point-deficit from the first leg, I always felt we could do it. I retained faith in the boys and that paid off.

“It felt good. Glasgow are big hitters. They are the current league champions and they know how to win silverware. We put in a team performance and within that, several individuals stood up and showed what they’re all about.

“Glasgow didn’t have any heat advantages. We scored at least three points in every race and we never let them back in it, before Scott and Sam tied it up on aggregate in the final race. 

“I couldn’t any prouder and I was chuffed for the lads. Jordan told me he would fix his problems and he did and he rode very well. Cam and Henry also chipped in, and Luke was very impressive from reserve.”

Monarch Oxford Cheetahs 54: Sam Masters 12+1, Henry Atkins 7+2, Cameron Heeps 8, Jordan Jenkins 7+2, Scott Nicholls 12+1, Ashton Boughen 0, Luke Killeen 8+3.

Glasgow Tigers 36: Chris Harris 11, James Pearson 2+1, Leon Flint 7, Paul Starke 4+1, Steve Worrall 9, Connor Coles 2, Jack Smith 1+1.

PHOTO: Wheelies from Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters following Heat 15 (Pic: Steve Edmunds)