Last updated 12:15, Thursday, 12 June 2008

Birmingham 47.5 Workington Comets 42.5: Workington Comets came desperately close to laying their Birmingham bogey and clocking-up another away win in the Premier League last night.

In Lyons’ den: Birmingham's Jason Lyons battles with Kauko Nieminen and Joe Haines Picture: Adrian Randall

But the Brummies fought back in the last four races to turn a point deficit into a five-point winning margin.

Injury-hit Birmingham had to use the rider replacement facility for Adam Roynon and employed three guests as they tracked only three signed riders.

Lee Smart was concussed at the Isle of Wight on Tuesday and joined Jack Hargreaves, Phil Morris and Roynon on the injured list.

Comets team manager Ian Thomas said: “I sympathised with Graham Drury over his situation because on the night he had more guests than Michael Parkinson!”

Of Birmingham’s 47 and a half points 22 of them came from their guests. Workington have also had their injury set-backs but they were able to field their first full complement in a month.

Joe Haines, out for a week with a damaged arm, found it tough on his comeback. He did win one race but it was his only scoring ride of the night.

“I think Joe was still feeling a little sore after taking a bad fall last week and although he said the arm was fine it will have shaken him a bit,” said Thomas.

Once again Daniel Nermark (13) and Kauko Nieminen (10) spearheaded the Comets challenge which at one point looked as though it would be successful.

“We were thinking that it was one we could just sneak.

“There had been nothing between the two teams throughout the meeting but they managed two 4-2’s in the last four races and that tipped the scales in their favour.

“We haven’t beaten Birmingham in the League or Cup since they came into the competition last year, but I’d like to think we have a chance of doing that on Saturday in the return,” said Thomas.

Birmingham star Jason Lyons had only been beaten twice around Perry Barr all season until last night when Nermark, Nieminen and Charles Wright all led him home. “I was particularly pleased for Charles because he rode really well to win that race and he worked hard all night, deserving more than the six points he finished with,” said Thomas.

In the race won by the Workington reserve there was a first occurrence for the Comets – one of their riders was given a dead-heat in a finish.

Thomas said: “Since 1999 when we re-launched we have never had a dead-heat involving one of our riders.

“Now the referee’s box is not exactly dead in line but they do have a photo finish camera and there was a considerable delay of about three to four minutes before referee Mick Posselwhite decided that it had been a dead heat.

“Charles led and Stoney was doing great to team ride trying to keep out Lyons but the Brummies rider came with a late charge at the line. It was impossible to tell from where we were, neither rider knew and it was obviously so close they couldn’t be separated.”

Workington entertain Birmingham on Saturday at Derwent Park asd they bid again to end their Birmingham jinx.

Birmingham Brummies: Rider replacement for Adam Roynon; Robert Ksiezak 9; Jason Lyons 13.5; Jason Bunyan 4; Craig Watson 7; Paul Clews 9; James Birkinshaw 5.

Workington Comets: Daniel Nermark 13; Tomi Reima 2; Kauko Nieminen 10; Joe Haines 3; Carl Stonehewer 6.5; Charles Wright 6; John Branney 2.