Workington Comets slipped to their second home defeat of the season when they went down 51-39 to Oxford Chargers.
On a day when they were out-gated, and generally out-ridden by a slick Oxford side, the Comets also had some slices of ill luck to hamper their progress.
Skipper Luke Crang suffered three mechanical problems; number one Connor Bailey shed a chain when he was challenging and a couple of falls didn’t help the home cause.
In a nutshell, though, Workington only had one heat maximum – and not until the 10th heat – and had to wait until heat six for their first heat advantage.
They actually only managed four advantages during the course of the meeting and one of those was handed to them by referee Matthew Wear after a rare occurrence.
Oxford guest Alfie Bowtell won heat 11 but what would have been a 4-2 for the visitors was reversed by the referee after he spotted Bowtell had raced without the obligatory race jacket.
Just briefly there was a glimmer of hope for the Comets as that 4-2 pulled them back to within eight points with four races to go.
But it was back to business for the Chargers in the next when Ryan Kinsley won it for them and what should have been a 3-3 to maintain the eight-point lead, became 10 points.
Young Luke Harrison was challenging strongly when he slid off and although he was able to remount and continue he had put himself out of the points.
Victory for the Chargers was assured in heat 13 when Comets hopes rested on Bailey and Ace Pijper but the Australian lost a chain and his race partner could only manage third in an Oxford 5-1.
It was small consolation for Workington when Harrison won the penultimate, shared heat and Pijper and Bailey combined for a 4-2 in the last.
Pijper, with 12 points, was Comets top-scorer and also looked the sharpest home rider.
There was also disappointment for Harry McGurk who has been generally struggling, even down at reserve.
But in heat eight it looked as though he was going to benefit from a good win only to be mugged by half a bike’s length on the line by the fast-finishing Ryan Kinsley.
Workington: Connor Bailey 8, Elliot Kelly 1, Sam McGurk 5, Luke Crang 2, Ace Pijper 12, Luke Harrison 8 + 1, Harry McGurk 2.
Oxford: Archie Bowtell (Guest) 8 + 1; Rider replacement for Kelsey Dugard, Ryan Kinsley 11, Jody Scott 8 + 3, Henry Atkins 11, Sam Woods 3 + 1, Jacob Clouting 10 + 1.
