Leading by a mere two points after their 46-44 first leg win at Smallbrook last week, few gave the Wightlink Islanders even a sniff of a chance of preventing their opponents being the side to win to face league champions Dudley in this year’s final.
Despite the odds being stacked so heavily against them, the patched up six man side, including three replacement riders from other clubs, produced arguably one of if not the greatest ever performances from a Wightlink Islanders side in the club’s history.
Their sensational 46-44 win last night around the National League’s smallest track that measures just 260 metres per lap was exactly the same score in their favour as in last Tuesday’s first leg at Smallbrook which is the league’s largest at 385 metres per lap.
Going into the fifteenth and final race last night at West Row with Fen Tigers leading the match 43-41 and thus level with us on aggregate, qualification for the cup final rested on the result of that one race and home fans duly expected their top two riders Stefan Nielsen and Dan Halsey to see them through to the final at our expense.
A somewhat emotional and overjoyed joint team manager Chris Hunt briefly commented:
“That was simply stunning and credit to not only riders in our colours but Mildenhall’s as well for producing four memorable matches over a total of 60 heats and just a mere four points separating the two sides at the end of those.
“We’re thrilled to have reached the final, I can’t praise our team enough and will comment more on tonight’s match via a further press release that will follow as soon as possible once I’m in a position to confirm when the home and legs of the final against Dudley will take place.
“Right now though I need to get home, try and get some sleep but whether any of us who were here tonight including myself will be able to get any sleep after that, well who knows!”
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