`Mildenhall 49 Glasgow 44 Premier League, Sunday Mildenhall sealed their first Premier League points with another entertaining last-heat decider against Glasgow – thanks hugely to Jason Lyons maximum paid 15 points. The ASL Freight Fen Tigers numbe

`Mildenhall 49 Glasgow 44

Premier League, Sunday

Mildenhall sealed their first Premier League points with another entertaining last-heat decider against Glasgow - thanks hugely to Jason Lyons' maximum paid 15 points.

The ASL Freight Fen Tigers' number one continued his recent stunning form by going through the card as Mildenhall saw a ten-point lead virtually wiped out in two successive races, but bagged the five-point victory with 4-2 advantages in the last two heats.

Mildenhall's loss of Andrew Moore, who quit the sport less than 48 hours before the meeting, was matched by Glasgow's absence of number one Danny Bird through sickness, and both teams operated rider replacement.

Australian Lyons and team-mate James Brundle took full advantage of the missing Bird by roaring to a 5-1 in the opening heat, and skipper Jon Armstrong had to pull off a classic third bend pass on Robert Ksiezak in the next to prevent a maximum reverse score.

It was to prove yet another busy afternoon for Armstrong, who took in seven rides, but he could do little about the impressive Finn Kauko Nieminen, who won heat three.

The Tigers extended their lead to six points with a Daniel King/Barry Burchatt 5-1.

And Nieminen had to be at his best to pass Brundle and split his possible max with Jason King in heat five.

Another 4-2 put the home side in front by ten after six races, as experienced campaigner Shane Parker did not need a second invitation to pass Brundle, who locked slightly out of the second turn, and finished behind the distant Lyons in heat six.

Opposing Tigers' team manager Stewart Dickson threw in a tactical ride for Nieminen in heat seven, and it worked a treat.

The flying Finn rode the wide line to head home Daniel King, and with James Cockle in third, the 2-7 advantage pulled back half the deficit in one fell swoop.

And they did almost the same again in the next, David McAllan and Cockle passing Barry Burchatt who went from first to third in the first lap to clinch a 5-1 and put the scores at 26-25.

And the margin remained at one point for the next shared five races as the riders had to contend with a light but persistent shower that remained for the rest of the meeting.

Armstrong and Lyons won the next two, but Parker responded to being beaten by the home captain earlier with a sweet pass around the boards on him to win heat 11.

And it was a move that Lee Dicken clearly watched closely, as he produced an almost identical manoeuvre on the same man in the next race.

Excellent team-riding saw Parker and Ksiezak shut out Daniel King at the back in heat 13, and the efforts of Armstrong in the penultimate race made sure the Fen Tigers took a three-point lead, as opposed to just one, to the final heat.

Tracking surprise leader Ksiezak all the way, Amstrong found a gap on the inside of the final two turns to force his way through and clinch a 4-2 for Mildenhall.

Lyons completed his maximum with an excellent tussle with Parker, one of two races in heat 15, as Daniel King produced a determined outside pass on Ksiezak to grab third.

"I felt we were in control earlier on, ten points in front, then they put in a tactical ride which worked for them, said Tigers' promoter Mick Horton.

"Straight after they hit us for a 5-1, and suddenly it just knocked us off our feet a little bit, because we were cruising at that stage.

"It was the same three that keep firing, but it was better today with the second strings.

"I thought Jason King and James Brundle showed glimpses of the form they are capable of, both scoring five points, and Barry Burchatt rode well again."

Mildenhall switch race-night next weekend to Saturday, June 11, facing Newcastle in the Premier League at 7.30pm, and then travel to the return fixture the following day.

Horton says a new signing to replace Andrew Moore will be unveiled to the crowd next Saturday, and he will again be using the rider replacement facility and drafting in a guest rider, as both Jason and Daniel King are riding in the World Under-21 semi-finals in Leszno, Poland.