Tom Hill, far left, and Dean Felton , far right, on their way to victory for the Islanders on Tuesday night. Picture by David Valentine.
SPEEDWAYWightlink Islanders 52 Buxton 42
WIGHTLINK Islanders maintained their impressive recent home form with an excellent National Trophy win over high-flying Buxton on Tuesday night.
Despite the final result, the Islanders actually got off to a bad start, losing the first heat 5-1, Craig Cook and Nick Morris scorching to an easy win. But they rallied well, levelling the scores with a 5-1 win in heat two, Dean Felton and Tom Hill racing to victory.
Islanders took the lead in the following heat with another 5-1, before the fourth and fifth heats were tied. Man of the match Lee Smethills and new signing Paul Starke took a 4-2 win in his six before another 5-1 maximum saw the Islanders pull away in the overall tally.
Buxton put Morris on a double in heat eight but again Smethills rode a steady line, holding off all attempts of the Aussie.
By the 12th heat, the Islanders had a 37-31 lead. Though the race looked like being a 5-1 win for the visitors, their leading rider made a mistake and opened up a gap to allow the Islanders to take maximum points instead, and virtually ensure an overall win.
Brendan Johnson rubbed Buxton noses into the Smallbrook dirt with a comfortable pillar-to-post win in heat 14, with Felton narrowly missing out on making it a 5-1, for a 49-37 overall score.
The final heat was like the first one — a Buxton 1-5 — but by then the hosts had gained a thoroughly-deserved victory.
Eight-point rider Smethills said after the match: "I am getting used to this place, this was a good win and I am enjoying my racing again."
Islanders’ team manager Kevin Shepherd added: "Buxton are top of the league and we beat them well tonight, I wish the season was just starting."
The Islanders take on Welsh outfit Newport on Sunday and then return to the Island on Tuesday, when Plymouth visit, at 7.30pm.