Belle Vue beat defending champions Sheffield 51-39 to leave the second ROWE Motor Oil Premiership semi-final perfectly poised ahead of Thursday’s second leg.
The Aces’ lead was in single figures for much of the meeting in Manchester, but former Workington rider Dan Bewley and Jaimon Lidsey struck a vital 5-1 in Heat 15 over Jack and Chris Holder to extend the margin to 12 points.
It means both teams will head to South Yorkshire with realistic hopes of progressing to the Grand Final against Leicester.
West Cumbrian ace Bewley top-scored for the Aces with 12 points and Lidsey added 11+2, while Jack Holder scored 12 for the Tigers and brother Chris picked up 11.
Lidsey said: “It was a bit of a rocky start but we managed to get some heat advantages back, and it was a really good score in the end for us.
“The last two times we’ve been to Sheffield we’ve been without Brady (Kurtz) and he’s No.1 for a reason and we need him in the team, so we’re going there on Thursday with a good mindset.
“If all of us can fire like then, I’m sure we’ll be okay.”
Sheffield boss Simon Stead, the former Workington Comets star, said: “Looking back on it, I was obviously disappointed after Heat 15, but we’re still in it and that’s the main thing.
“When I was thinking about the result of the meeting, I certainly didn’t want to be carrying any more than 12 – but 12 keeps it really interesting.
“The boys are up for it and I can’t see Kyle (Howarth) having a night like he did, I can’t see Picko (Josh Pickering) having a night like he did and I can’t see Bomber (Chris Harris) having a night like he did.
“So if we have that swing and the Holder boys keep doing what they’re doing then all of a sudden it’s right back in the balance.”
