Heathens 52, Mildenhall 38

CRADLEY moved closer to the National League summit with victory over Mildenhall in Wolverhampton tonight.

The Heathens maintained their fine unbeaten home record with a battling performance at Monmore Green.

Ash Morris won heat one to hand his side an early lead before the next two contests finished all square.

Skipper Max Clegg got the job done in heat four as Fen Tiger Connor Mountain followed him home.

But the drama came behind in the battle between Bradley Andrews and Alfie Bowtell for the final point on offer.

The pair collided at the final bend. Andrews recovered quickly to cross as Bowtell was disqualified for causing the crash.

Cradley pushed further ahead in heat six as Morris again took the win before Brad Andrews bagged an extra point in third.

The contest remained a close affair with Mildenhall always well involved in every race without being able to the deficit. Points were shared in six of the first nine heats.

However, it was Cradley that continued to edge a couple more points ahead when the opportunity arrived.

That was evident in heat 10 as Ash Morris secured another win ahead of Mildenhall's Coles. Teammate Brad Andrews bagged third for a valuable 4-2.

Lone Heathen Clegg held off the challenge of the Fen Tigers in heat 11 by bagging the win to make sure the points were again shared after Layne Cupitt slid out and was excluded from the re-run.

He powered ahead of Jon Armstrong and Chris Widman and held his advantage to take a vital three points to leave the scores at 37-29 heading into the final four heats.

A massive 5-1 maximum in heat 13 made sure of the win in fine style for the Heathens.

Captain Clegg led home teammate Ash Morris as they moved away from their determined visitors.

It was a feat the duo repeated in heat 15 to wrap up proceedings in style.

Though the teams around them boast a host of games in hand, the victory keeps Cradley well in the play-off picture heading into the second half of the campaign.

CRADLEY 52: Max Clegg 15, Ashley Morris 13+2, Richard Andrews 10+1, Bradley Andrews 9, Luke Chessell 5+3, Layne Cupitt 0, James Purchase R/R.

MILDENHALL 38: Connor Coles 13, Jon Armstrong 9, Connor Mountain 8+1, Alfie Bowtell 6+1, Chris Widman 1+1, Luke Ruddick 1+1, Rob Parker 0, Dan Halsey R/R.