DETERMINED Wolverhampton survived a mid-meeting mini scare to see off Belle Vue 49-41 at Monmore Green as they recorded back-to-back home wins.
An early eight point lead was pegged back to just two part way through, but the Parrys International Wolves were able to dig deep in the latter stages, securing victory with a race to spare.
The Monmore men got off to a dream start, opening with successive 5-1 maximums.
The first saw Jacob Thorssell make the gate and take Craig Cook wide on the first couple of bends, creating a path for team-mate Ashley Morris to charge up the inside into second place.
The initial staging of the second saw Belle Vue reserve Jye Etheridge break the tapes and he was punished with a 15 metre handicap for the re-run. That saw team partner Damian Drozdz get horribly out of shape on the first and second bends before sliding off under the air fence, and Wolves took advantage in the third attempt, coasting to another 5-1.
Flying Aussie Sam Masters continued his stunning form as he took the chequered flag in the third to maintain the eight point gap before more drama in the fourth.
This time it was the home skipper Rory Schlein who was too keen on the start-line and he was also forced to start the re-run 15 metres back.
The second attempt saw Nathan Greaves charge under Max Fricke down the back straight before the former World Under-21 Champion pulled away for the visitors. Greaves turned his attentions to slowing down Drozdz and was successful in his attempts as Schlein worked his way into third place on the third lap.
But the Aces hit back in the fifth after Kyle Howarth and Masters got in each other's way, allowing Cook to come from behind into second. Howarth fired back under Cook into bend three, but too much drive sent him wide and Cook cut-back on the run to the line.
And six points down, Belle Vue nominated Cook as a tactical sub in the ninth. Team partner Fricke hit the front, but the Aces' No.1 was forced to settle for third after getting by Howarth on the entrance to the final lap.
And when Tungate ended Thorssell's unbeaten night by sending him wide in the opening bends, the nerves began to jangle with the gap back to two after Dan Bewley ruthelessly stormed under Morris.
Howarth showed good character after a tough night to take a vital win in the twelfth and when Tungate fell in the penultimate race, Cameron Heeps and Masters took full advantage in the re-run to wrap up the points.
And when Thorssell made another stunning gate in the last race, that was enough to ensure Wolves sent Belle Vue home empty handed.
"Pete (Adams - team manager) always keeps us updated and we knew a 3-3 in the last one would be enough to do that," Thorssell said.
"He pulled me and Rory to one side and gave us some wise words and it was nice for me to round off a much better night with a win.
"I've had some tough times lately but it felt good to have a meeting like that and I really enjoyed myself for the first time in a while.
"But this was a very good win for the whole team which is important because Belle Vue are a hard team to beat."
Wolves travel to Manchester on Wednesday (July 25, 7.30) to take on the Aces at the National Speedway Stadium.
It sounds simple, but sometimes we can all forget to step back and look after our own wellbeing.
