IT was a case of deja vu for Wolverhampton as they again left reigning Champions Swindon empty handed.
The Parrys International Wolves lost 50-40 at The Abbey Stadium and missed out on a consolation league point in the final race, just as they did on their previous visit in May.
There was drama in the very first race when Ashley Morris was brought crashing down by Swindon namesake Nick on bend four of the second lap. It was a horrible looking incident but both, somehow, were quickly back to their feet with the home No.1 disqualified.
There was a case for the race to be awarded with Jacob Thorssell leading and on his third lap. But in typical speedway fashion the lone Robin David Bellego flew away from the start in the re-run as the fixture opened with a shared heat.
But the visitors found themselves edging the lead with seven races gone courtesy of two 5-1 maximums from middle-order pairing Sam Masters and Kyle Howarth.
The duo rode well in heat three to hold off hard-charging former Wolf Tobiasz Musielak, before Masters steamed under Troy Batchelor off bend two of lap one in the seventh to join Howarth out front and open up a 22-20 lead in the process.
But the hosts would take the chequered flag in the next five races preventing Wolves from doing further damage. It was mainly reserve Zach Wajtknecht who was a thorn in the Monmore men's side as he went unbeaten by a Wolves rider on three occasions in that period.
Two of those saw him link-up with Adam Ellis for 5-1 maximums, the most frustrating of which came in Heat 12 following Kyle Howarth's disqualification after breaking the tapes.
A Swindon 4-2 from the gate assured them of victory in Heat 13, before a first race win of the night from Thorssell as a tactical substitution gave the visitors a glimmer of hope of claiming a league point.
But Thorssell couldn't make as fast a start in the final race and Wolves were unable to register the heat advantage they needed.
Team Manager Peter Adams said: "Of course we're disappointed because it's another away meeting gone and another one where we haven't been able to add to our points tally in the league table.
"It was very difficult to pass and I think I can just about remember one overtake in the entire meeting.
"But that's the way it goes at some places and more than anything I felt we came up short at reserve.
"I thought Tom Bacon acquitted himself very well standing in for Nathan (Greaves), but having thought Cameron Heeps had turned a corner, a performance like that tonight is a real concern."
Wolves return to home action next Monday (August 6, 7.30) when Leicester are the visitors at Monmore Green.
SWINDON 50: Zach Wajtknecht 11+2, Troy Batchelor 11, Tobiasz Musielak 9, David Bellego 7, Adam Ellis 6, Nick Morris 5, Jack Smith 1.
WOLVERHAMPTON 40: Jacob Thorssell 13, Sam Masters 8+1, Kyle Howarth 6+2, Rory Schlein 5, Ashley Morris 4+2, Tom Bacon 4+1, Cameron Heeps 0.
