Awesome Ashworth saves Sheffield.

Sheffield's fast-rising reserve Ricky Ashworth preserved his club's five year unbeaten home record in a remarkable solo performance against the Isle of Wight this evening. The Islanders being the last team to win at Sheffield but that was in 1998.

With the powerful heat leader trio possessed by the Islanders this was always going to be a tough one for Sheffield - a fact underlined as early as heat one when Danny Bird outpaced Sean Wilson. Bird's team-mate Glen Phillips taking third place to put the visitors in to an early lead which they stretched out to three points through Adam Shieds and Gary Phelps in heat four.

At this stage, Bird, Shields and Ray Morton had seen off the best Sheffield had to offer and they certainly looked capable of holding the upper hand only for the Tigers to begin to steady the ship before the Ashworth show began.

He'd won heat two by the proverbial but at 17-18 after heat six, Sheffield needed something special, which they proceeded to deliver thanks to Ashworth. He first teamed up with Andre Compton for a fine maximum heat advantage in the seventh race which put the Tigers ahead for the first time. Ashworth's reward was to be sent out in heat eight to replace the out of touch Ben Wilson where he streaked away for another huge win and with James Birkinshaw battling in to second place Sheffield assumed control.

Three heats later it was Ashworth again as he and Compton repeated their heat seven success, this time leaving Danny Bird in their wake and now standing nine points ahead the Tigers looked safe. Even more so as Ashworth was again sent in to replace Ben Wilson and lead Adam Shields for just over three laps until the Islander forced past to become the first rider to defeat Ashworth and at the same time keep his own maximum chances intact.

Shields combined with Bird to leave the home fans silent as they lead home Sean Wilson and Compton in heat thirteen to pull the Islanders to just three points behind and very much in the hunt. Owlerton terrace faithful scratching their heads to recall the last time any visiting team scored a maximum over Wilson.

Heat fourteen looked for all the world as the decider. Fortunately for Sheffield, the flying Ashworth was to take part and went to the tapes with Andy Moore needing at minimum a 4-2 to seal the points. Up went the tapes and away went Ashworth for his fifth win of the night. Moore claimed the vital third place as Sheffield collectively swept their brows in relief.

Sean Wilson had Shields beat all ends up in the final heat only to suffer mechanical misfortune on the final lap leaving Shields clear to get his maximum and who else but Ashworth to finish second to cap a career best night's work for the youngster in his final meeting as a reserve - he's due to move in to the team proper from Sunday as the new averages take effect.

Scorers:

Sheffield
Sean Wilson 9, James Birkinshaw 3, Scott Smith 6, Andrew Moore 4, Andre Compton 6, Ricky Ashworth 19, Ben Wilson 0

Isle of Wight
Danny Bird 9, Glen Phillips 2, Ray Morton 6, Sebastian Tressarieu 4, Adam Shields 18, Chris Mills 0. Gary Phelps 3