Workington Comets just missed out on the aggregate points after a 50-40 defeat at Oxford on Sunday night.
They had gone into the return meeting with an eight-point advantage from last Saturday’s home leg.
Although beaten on the night, the Comets got to the last heat still in with a shout of collecting a point.
Troy Batchelor and Antti Vuolas needed a 5-1 to win the point or a 4-2 to take it to an extra race to decide the outcome.
But Sam Masters, the Cheetah’s number one and top scorer, made a lightning start, and the Comets pair couldn’t catch him as the 3-3 denied Workington anything on the night.
Masters (13 + 1) and reserve Luke Killeen (11 + 1) were the main scorers for the Cheetahs.
It was a similar story for the Comets with skipper and number one Troy Batchelor (11 +1) and reserve Jacob Hook (10 + 2) leading the way.
Hook ended up with seven rides as fellow reserve Vinnie Foord fell in his first race and took no further part in the meeting.
It meant Hook was kept busy and was employed in seven races, scoring in every one except the last.
Batchelor had six rides and scored points in them all with a win, two seconds, and three thirds.
Vuolas was another who picked up points in all his outings (8 + 1), but crucially, both Tate Zischke and Jye Etheridge had two lasts on their scorecard.
Zaine Kennedy was used as a guest at number two for Fraser Bowes but only managed two points.
He had made a great start in the opening heat before Masters went past, but he stuck on for second with Batchelor in third.
The Cheetahs also had an absentee at number two with Francis Gusts out through injury, but they opted for rider replacement, which only garnered them four points, which included a win for Killeen.
The Comets have four meetings left – Glasgow and Berwick at home, as well as Berwick and Redcar away.
They would need a handsome points return from those to have an outside chance of snatching a play-off berth.
Oxford Cheetahs 50 (91)
Sam Masters 13+1; Francis Gusts (RR); Jordan Jenkins 7+1; Mitch McDiarmid 8; Cameron Heeps 5; Luke Killeen 11+1; Jonas Knudsen 6+1.
Workington Comets 40 (89)
Troy Batchelor 11+1; Zaine Kennedy 2; Antti Vuolas 8+1;
Jye Etheridge 5; Tate Zischke 4; Jacob Hook 10+2; Vinnie Foord 0.
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