So close! Yet so far! Was the message coming from Central Park Stadium from the CTA Fire Kings following a last heat decider where visitor Charles Wright rounded Steve Boxall and Benji Compton to give the Hitmen a hard earned draw on their first visit after keeping it close for the whole meeting, in fact the two sides were never more than four points adrift of each other!
A new track record, a tenth quicker than the opening meeting was set by Kings skipper Boxall in heat 1 which was followed by race wins for Kirby, Morley and Compton to put the Kings 4 up after heat 4, 14-10. Whereas Kirby had a productive meeting which could have been more points but for a snapped chain in heat 7. New signing Baldock found the going tough as did stand in reserve Nick Laurence, both sampling the Kent circuit for the first time.
The Hitmen made the most of their reserves with a 15 point return between them grabbing the important minor placing's and a heat 8 5-1 to them levelled the meeting. Hitmen's guest Robert Branford put the visitors into the lead with a heat 9 win over Morley.
The slight advantage was soon wiped out by Compton and Kirby sandwiching Wright for a heat advantage to level it all up again in heat 11, 33-33. Kirby teamed up with Morley for a 5-1 over the visitors to grab the lead back in the next heat, 38-34. A cracking ride from Wright heading off Boxall with Branford 3rd in heat 13 kept the Hitmen on course for a tight finish, while the Kings camp were within a whisker of their first victory.
With just two heats to go Coles miserable night ended with a fourth place as the Hitmen sandwiched Kirby into second spot to draw level and force a last heat decider. Wright stole the show and the win from the grasp of the Kings with a stunning second bend pass of Boxall and Compton to force the draw.
The CTA Fire Kings now travel to Coventry Storm for a National league meeting on Friday at 8.00pm before Mildenhall Fen Tigers National Trophy meeting on Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm and back to Central Park next Monday at 6.30pm for the Tunnel Trophy against Rye House Raiders.
KENT CTA FIRE KINGS 1. Steve Boxall (C) 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, = 13 2. Mark Baldock 1, 0, 1, = 2 3. Ben Morley 3, 1', 2, 2', = 8+2 4. Connor Coles F, 2, 0, 0, = 2 5. Benji Compton 3, 3, 3, 0, 1', = 10+1 6. Adam Kirby 3, R, F, 1, 3, 2, = 9 7. Nick Laurence 1, 0, 0, = 1 Team manager: John Sampford
BUXTON HITMEN 1. Charles Wright 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, = 13 2. Tyler Govier 0, R, 0, = 0 3. Ryan Blacklock R/R 4. Adam McKinna 2, 2, 2, 0, 3, = 9 5. Robert Branford (G) 2, 2, 3, 1, 0, = 8 6. Tom Woolley 2, 1', 1', 2', 1, 1, = 8+3 7. Matt Williamson 0, 1', 1', 3, 1', 1, = 7+3 Team manager: Jack Lee REFEREE: Dave Robinson
GATE POSITIONS: Hitmen won the coin toss and took gates 2 and 4 in heat 1. Kings took gates 1 and 3 in heat 15.
