CRADLEY got back to winning ways after a close battle with Kent Kings at Monmore Green.

The Heathens got their play-off aim back on track with a 47-37 success on Monday night that moved them back into the top four.

Showing no signs of rustiness after more than three weeks without action, the Heathens were quick out of the blocks to record a win in heat one.

Danny Ayres got things off to a fine start for Cradley as he powered home in front against his former club.

But with teammate Joe Lawlor suffering mechanical problems it meant the heat was drawn as the visiting duo followed him home.

The meeting was delayed for more than an hour after Kent's Luke Clifton crashed out down the back straight of heat two.

Paramedics rushed to treat a serious leg injury before he had to leave the track in the ambulance with fractures to his femur, fibula and tibia.

When the action did get back underway there was nothing separating the two sides.

Heats five, six, seven and eight all ended 3-3 leaving the scores tied at 24-24 heading into heat nine.

That heat provided a big moment as Kent, suffering due to the injury to Clifton, were only able to field one rider.

The hosts took full advantage to bag their first maximum of the evening and take a decisive lead.

Ayres followed it up in heat 10 for his third successive win of the night to maintain his side's four point advantage heading into the closing stages.

After heats 10 and 11 were also drawn, with notable wins for Luke Bowen and Danny Ayres, it was Cradley that bagged a big maximum in heat 12.

Reserve Ryan Burton picked up the win ahead of teammate Dan Greenwood to put their side on the verge of a vital victory.

The home side wrapped up the points in with a win in heat 13 for Tom Perry, resigning fellow Heathen Ayres to his first defeat of the night.

But the night ended as it started with another injury delay in the 15th and final heat.

Luke Bowen slid out at the start of lap two causing the meeting to have to end one heat early.

CRADLEY 47: Tom Perry 11, Danny Ayres 10, Dan Greenwood 7+1, Ryan Burton 7, Conor Dwyer 6+3, Luke Harris 6+2, Joe Lawlor 0.

KENT 37: Luke Bowen 10, Jack Thomas 8+2, Ben Hopwood 6+1, Anders Rowe 5, Bradley Andrews 4+1, Nathan Stoneman 4+1, Luke Clifton 0.
Abandoned after 14 heats due to curfew. Result stands.