REIGNING champions Stockport kept up their unbeaten run in Division One but were given a real fright at home to Astley and Tyldesley.
The Gin Pit side clawed back a big deficit after a poor start before losing 89-86, a defeat that saw them drop from second to fourth in the table.
The home team built up a nine-point lead after just three races in a keenly contested opening that threatened to boil over following a number of collisions as the riders jostled for position.
Three race wins by Radek Handke and two for Damian Zareba steadied things for A&T but with Reece Pollitt receiving two race exclusions the visitors went into the break 47-40 down.
Despite race exclusions for Stockport’s Jake Read and Mat Lush, the home team provided the next four race winners and their lead was still seven points after heat 13.
But A&T moved up a gear and 6-4 wins in heats 14 and 16 reduced the gap to just three points before a terrific 7-3 victory from Pollitt and Handke over Ben Higham and Matt Turner put them into the lead for the first time going into the final race.
A first-bend crash forced a re-run but Read and Lush sped away from the gate to take a 7-3 win over Danny Hughes and Mark Mulvey to give Stockport a narrow three-point victory.
Former British Champion Terry Norman won his opening four races for Stockport before being relegated to the back in heat 16. Handke was top scorer for A&T, beaten only by Norman in heat 12.
Stockport conceded 39 penalty points after fielding two ineligible riders in the Division Two match, which league leaders A&T won comfortably 117-72 to extend their run to six straight victories.
Early victories for the home side gave them hope but a 7-3 win by Mark Grantham and Ciaran Collins over Lush in heat 6 stemmed the tide.
A&T won three more heats and the rest were drawn to take a 78-72 win on the track.
Turner top scored for Stockport, while Collins was best for A&T, losing only to Ben Higham in heat 3.
Astley and Tyldesley are also top of Division Three following a 71-42 win at Stockport.
Emily Burgess inspired the victory, top scoring as all eight riders made valuable contributions.
Results
Northern League Division One: Stockport 89 Astley & Tyldesley 86
A&T scorers: Radek Handke 18 (plus 1 bonus), Damian Zareba 16 (1), Danny Hughes 11 (1), Paul Graham 10 (2), Mark Mulvey 10, Reece Pollitt 10, Lee Phillips 7 (1), Ciaran Collins 4.
Northern League Division Two: Stockport 72 Astley & Tyldesley 117
A&T scorers: Ciaran Collins 16 (3), Max Evans 14 (1), Mark Grantham 12, Emily Burgess 11, Charlie Burgess 9 (2), Gareth Paine 9 (1), Lee Phillips 7.
Northern League Division Three: Stockport 41 Astley & Tyldesley 72
A&T top scorers: Emily Burgess 12, Max Evans 11, Charlie Burgess 11, John White 9, Lucy Grantham 9, Jack Littler 8, Jack Murray 6, Caillen Langlands 6.
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