Ipswich skipper Danny King says the Tru7 Group Witches head to Leicester on Monday, determined avoid Rowe Motor Oil Premiership play-off heartbreak after their 49-41 loss at home to Belle Vue.
The table-topping Aces triumphed at Foxhall to rack up a 111-69 aggregate victory over a Witches side, which they may meet in the play-off semi-finals.
But Ipswich faces a fight to finish inside the top four now. A win or draw at Leicester on Monday would secure their passage into the play-offs. But if they lose at the Hydroscand Arena, fifth-placed King’s Lynn leapfrog the Witches if they take all three points at basement club Northampton next Thursday.
Witches are currently on 22 points going into their final match with the Stars on 20. If they tie, King’s Lynn’s superior points difference would place them higher.
King is determined to see his side take matters into their own hands and get a result at Leicester.
He said: “It’s down to us. We have been in the play-offs positions all year and, if we drop out at the last minute, it’s going to be heartbreaking. We have fought hard all season to be in that top four, and it’s still the goal.
“We have been saying all year that we need everyone to fire at once, and it doesn’t seem to happen. This is the meeting when it needs to happen. We have to go out there and get a win or draw, but it isn’t going to be an easy task.
“Leicester is a solid outfit at home. They are a solid outfit in general, but certainly at home they are very good and dialled in. We will go there and throw everything at it and see what we can get.”
Ipswich icon Scott Nicholls scored five paid seven points on a solid comeback from a broken collarbone, before pulling up in his final ride in heat 10.
King is hopeful the 48-year-old will race on at Leicester. He said: “Scott was very good against Belle Vue. I didn’t manage to speak to him after the meeting, but I am hopeful that he’s okay. We are going to need him on Monday. It’s a track he knows and rides well.”
Polish star Tobiasz Musielak topped Witches’ scoring against the Aces, with Tom Brennan adding eight paid nine. But Belle Vue triumphed with a solid team display, led by reserve sensation Tate Zischke, who racked up 12 points.
“Tate was fantastic,” King said. “He was riding very well. What can you say? They were the better team. We knew it was going to be tough in the later heats. We knew we had to build a lead going into them. We were doing okay at one point, but unfortunately, they were just too strong for us.”
FINAL SCORES
IPSWICH TRU7 GROUP WITCHES 41: 1. Richard Lawson 6, 2. Scott Nicholls 5+2, 3. Danny King 6+1, 4. Tom Brennan 8+1, 5. Tobiasz Musielak 10, 6. Kevin Juhl Pedersen 2, 7. Jason Edwards 4+2.
BELLE VUE ACES 49: 1. Brady Kurtz 8, 2. Norick Blodorn 4+1, 3. Peter Kildemand 10+2, 4. Zach Cook 5+1, 5. Jason Doyle 9+1, 6. Tate Zischke 12, 7. Sam Hagon 1.