Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets

It was expected to be a tough match, and it didn't go according to plan for either side, but in the end Monarchs managed to take all three points against league leaders Workington.

Workington started without Peter Kildemand, always a man worth watching, and lost Tomas Topinka on parade after a collision with Kenny Ingalls' mechanic.

So they only had five riders, but on the other hand Monarchs' reserves were so unproductive that they found it very tough to build up any momentum.

In the circumstances Monarchs' top five could not afford many errors, and with Kalle Katajisto struggling in his early rides the weakened Comets held the upper hand.

The opening heat was a good one with Kenny Ingalls leading for the first lap before Matthew Wethers squeezed past. Kevin Wolbert gradually reeled in Ingalls as well, and passed him on the last bend. Ingalls came off but the referee felt that the American had not been fouled.

Lee Dicken managed to grab a second in heat 2, splitting the visitors. Ashley Morris made a poor start and although he got on to Charles Wright's tail, he made no further progress.

Further problems in heat 3 when Andrew Tully got in a tangle trying to come round the outside on the first corner and fell. Kalle Katajisto trailed in behind Lawson and Harrison and Workington were ahead.

Topinka was out of heat 4 so it was the Comets' reserves again, and they shared the heat behind the fast gating Craig Cook.

James Wright made his only start of the night to hold off Tully in heat 5, and Lawson kept Katajisto at the rear again to double the visitors' lead.

You can always count on Kevin and Matthew though, especially with the Comets' reserves in opposition, and their heat 7 5-1 levelled the scores.

The problems weren't over though! Lawson and Harrison took their second 5-1 in heat 7 with Craig Cook unable to make any impression.

Matthew Wethers won heat 8 but by this time we had almost given up hope of our reserves ever scoring, and Ashley Morris was at the back again.

Andrew Tully went ahead in heat 9 but again Katajisto was at the back. He pressed Charles Wright and he made an error, dropping onto his knee although he didn't fall, letting Kalle through.

So we were two behind with the two most successful pairings in heat 10. It was the home duo of Wolbert and Wethers who easily headed Lawson and Harrison to put Monarchs ahead for the first time since heat 2.

Initially James Wright gated in heat 11, with Cook and Dicken following but Charles Wright falling. At the second attempt it was Cook who was better away, but the Comets easily shared the race.

Again in heat 12 Monarchs took advantage of a second start. Lawson had initially led, but Ashley Morris went across the pits corner and crashed into the fence. Second time, it was a win for Tully.

Monarchs were two up but made their big move in heat 13. James Wright was moving at the start but still missed it, and Cook and Wolbert cleaned up the five points to put Monarchs six ahead.

Heat 14 did not look promising, but off gate 4 Kalle Katajisto got it right and rounded the field to lead the way. He seemed to be enjoying it, foot off the peg in spectacular style, but where had that form been earlier?

So a shared heat there meant the match was won, to sighs of relief. Now we needed an advantage to clinch the third point.

With Wolbert and Wethers both unbeaten, we seemed strong favourites against Lawson and Harrison. Even more so when the home pair led from the gate, but Lawson came down, had a look up the track and stayed down.

That was disappointing, even more so when Harrison gated ahead in the rerun. Wolbert took up the chase, and with one of his sweeping dives into the pits corner he took the lead - only for Harrison to run out of space and fall against the fence.

There was no contact, but Wolbert was excluded presumably on the grounds of giving Harrison no room.

We still had a chance though, and Matthew Wethers was again the man for the job, easing ahead round the first corner and winning easily.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets

Edinburgh Monarchs face Workington on Friday (7.30) in the first of five very difficult matches in the next ten days that could go a long way to deciding whether they are really Premier League heat leaders or merely second strings.

The Comets are real high flyers this season with a strong top five and a high scoring reserve. It almost goes without saying that they are particularly strong around their Derwent Park home but they have had a lot of success on their travels this season too.

One of the reasons is the return of the prodigal son, James Wright who, bearing in mind his five point full time average for Belle Vue last season, stepped down a league on 7.82 rather than perhaps over ten as would previously have been the case.

Kevin Wolbert may find it odd riding against 'Wrighty', his doubling-up partner at Birmingham. But his reliably consistent partner at No.2, Matthew Wethers will ride against four rider replacement opponents because fast improving Peter Kildemand is on Danish international duty.

Andrew Tully will be hoping to continue his scorching form of two weeks ago when he lines up against Richard Lawson, son of former Glasgow star Steve. 'Rich' is well capable of exceeding his 2010 average which was affected by injury.

There's an intriguing match-up at No.4 where super Kalle faces super Rusty, the former Monarchs' No.1 who is enjoying a new lease of speedway life after retiring on medical advice in 2008. But his favoured wide line has not been too productive at the Dale recently.

Next, will Craig Cook remember which side of the pits he is on this week as he is faced by his local side for whom he raced in 2009 and 2010? He faces the mercurial Czech rider Tomas Topinka who completes a very tasty Comets top five.

Edinburgh fans will have fingers crossed that late starter Lee Dicken is up to speed this week as he faces the younger of the two Stockport brothers, Charles Wright, and has every chance of going home with some decent points money.

Sadly, such is the impact made by Kyle Howarth in his short time in the blue and gold, that his absence through injury will be keenly felt. Ashley Morris returns as NL guest reserve at No.7, so Monarchs fans will be able to judge how well he is racing now.

It's a big ask for him to match the flying American Kenny Ingalls who has made a sensational return from injury with double figure scores in only his second UK season. But the tight Armadale track will prove a tester for the young Californian.

There have been some memorable encounters between these sides in the post-Stoney era ? and this one is likely to be no different. Hopefully Monarchs will not be ring rusty after last week's layoff but one thing is certain ? Comets will be high on confidence.

Either side would be really boosted by a win in this one so it promises to be a very close contest. So hopefully the fans will turn out in big numbers to give the home side all the support they deserve in what could prove to be a pivotal match for the mighty Monarchs.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers (capt), Andrew Tully, Kalle Katajisto, Craig Cook, Lee Dicken, Ashley Morris (guest).

WORKINGTON THOMAS ARMSTRONG COMETS: James Wright, Peter Kildemand R/R, Richard Lawson, Rusty Harrison, Tomas Topinka (capt), Charles Wright, Kenny Ingalls.