TEAM chief Carl Johnson hailed ‘match-winner’ Bradley Wilson-Dean following Peterborough’s success at Scunthorpe on Sunday.

The ‘T Balfe Construction’ Panthers continued a super start to the inaugural SGB Championship season with a 46-44 triumph at the Eddie Wright Raceway.

Just as at the East of England Showground nine days earlier, when Peterborough beat the same opponents 51-42, skipper Ulrich Ostergaard sealed victory by winning the penultimate race.

But it was the display of New Zealand champion Wilson-Dean that really caught the eye. He piled up a dozen points from reserve to fire Panthers to victory in their first road trip of the new campaign.

Johnson said: “We couldn’t have asked for any more than winning our first home meeting and following it up with success in our first away fixture.

“It was important to get the season off to a good start and we have managed to go that.

“A couple of guys had off-nights, but in Bradley we had a match-winner. He really stepped up and score the points that ensured we came away with a win.

“Performances like that from him are the reason why we built the team in the way we did. We felt the strength in depth could turn meetings our way.”

It certainly wasn’t a one-man show as Peterborough led for the vast majority of the contest.

They only briefly fell behind after Jack Holder and the out-of-sorts Simon Lambert were on the receiving end of a 5-1 in heat five, but they responded with a maximum return of their own in heat seven when Paul Starke led home skipper Ostergaard.

That was one of a hat-trick of triumphs for winter signing Starke, who delivered the most thrilling moment of the meeting when pulling off a late swoop to snatch heat 10 glory from Scunthorpe number one Ryan Douglas.

Holder also contributed a handy 10 points to the Peterborough cause with wins in the opener and heat 13, while Ostergaard took the flag in heat three before clinching victory in heat 14.

Chosen Panthers duo Holder and Starke then needed a heat advantage in the final to pocket all four available league points, but home duo Lewis Kerr and Josh Auty claimed a 5-1 to salvage pride.

Johnson added: “It wasn’t to be in the final race, but we’re happy to come away with the win in front of a big number of our fans.

“I have to say a massive thank-you to every Panthers supporter who made the trip. Their backing makes a big difference for the riders and I’m delighted we gave everyone the result they wanted.”

Peterborough now turn their attention to the KO Cup. They face Redcar in the opening round with the first leg at the East of England Showground on Sunday (April 9).

SCORES

SCUNTHORPE: Lewis Kerr 11+2, Josh Auty 11+1, Carl Wilkinson 7+2, Michael Palm Toft 7, Ryan Douglas 6+2, Josh Bailey 2, Fritz Wallner 0.

PETERBOROUGH ‘T BALFE CONSTRUCTION’ PANTHERS: Bradley Wilson-Dean 12, Jack Holder 10, Paul Starke 9, Ulrich Ostergaard 8+1, Tom Bacon 3+2, Kenneth Hansen 3+1, Simon Lambert 1+1.