Josh Pickering powered to 17 points but the former Edinburgh Monarchs racer could not stop Scuthorpe Scorpions skidding to a 50-40 defeat in the Cab Direct Championship at Glasgow Tigers.
The result means Tigers move into second spot in the table, elbowing Scorpions down to third, and Glasgow boss, Cami Brown, praised the fighting spirit of his patched-up side.
The sides match-up again in the play-offs but, on this occasion, three key Tigers were missing, including captain, Chris Harris, and guests were Anders Rowe, Dan Thompson and Max Perry.
It was Scunthorpe No 1, Aussie-born Pickering, who starred and he was outstanding in winning Heat 11, coming from last to first from 15 metres back to win.
Leon Flint, the former Berwick racer, top scored for Tigers with ten points, a number equalled by Thomson, a former Tigers star now with Edinburgh.
Brown said: “We got the result we wanted, but only by the skin of our teeth really and I was pleased that it was Leon (Flint) who beat Josh Pickering to seal the win and second place in the league table.
“To get any victory over Josh at the moment is an achievement.”
Overall, he added: “To finish second in the league is impressive considering we lost one of our top riders and we’ve had two guests for the last two months.
“That was a win against all odds and it means we’ve gone through the regular league season undefeated at home. That’s been vital.”
GLASGOW: Leon Flint 10+3, Dan Thompson 10+2, Kevin Juhl Pedersen 9+1, Anders Rowe 9, Sam Hagon 8, Max Perry 3, Freddy Hodder 1.
SCUNTHORPE: Josh Pickering 17, Connor Mountain 10+2, Jordan Jenkins 4, Michael Palm Toft 4, Nathan Ablitt 3+1, Reid Battye 1, Ryan Ingram 1.
Meanwhile, Monarchs Academy maintained their perfect record in this year’s National Development League by beating Oxford Chargers 51-39 at Armadale.
The home side were pushed perhaps harder than they expected by a visiting side deprived of the services of Darryl Ritchings, called away for a Longtrack commitment.
Home No 1, Jordy Loftus proved himself to be fully recovered after his recent concussion with a paid 12.
The Aussie said: “It’s always good to get a win. We all had mechanical issues, but we got through it, but we worked hard and kept pushing.”
Edinburgh Monarchs Academy: Jordy Loftus 11+1, Ben Whalley 8+1, James Shanes 0+0, Vinnie Foord 12+2, Dayle Wood 11+0, Anika Loftus 2+0, Jamie Halder 7+3, Rocco Webb 0+0
Oxford Chargers: Jody Scott 14+0, Senna Summers 5+1, Harry Fletcher 4+1, Ashton Vale 10+0, Darryl Ritchings 0+0, Casper Kluczniak 4+0, Max Broadhurst 2+0
