BRUMMIES gained a much-needed and deserved home win in a highly entertaining fixture at Perry Barr played out in front of a bumper crowd.

Birmingham and Redcar have proved to be evenly-matched this season, and there was little to choose between the sides for much of the meeting.

Brummies went into the meeting without James Birkinshaw, who was ruled out on medical grounds on the day of the meeting, but his guest replacement Josh Grajczonek battled hard and did his job with a series of third places.

It was a night where the heat-leaders needed to win races but the third places for second-strings and reserves were just as important, and the Brummies just did better in both departments.

Skipper Jason Lyons roared to a 12-point maximum including a superb pass of opposing captain Gary Havelock in Heat 5 - and home fans were also delighted to see Kyle Legault back in top form with three race wins.

Craig Watson completed a potent top three, and it was three 4-2s in three races starting in Heat 11 which turned the match in the Brummies' favour.

Jack Roberts took a crucial point in Heat 11, defeating Chris Kerr and challenging Havelock, and the Bears were unlucky in the next when James Grieves came to a halt.

Watson overhauled Ty Proctor in Heat 13 to put the Brummies eight up which did leave them vulnerable to a tactical substitute ride.

However, Grieves - racing for double points from the handicap in Heat 14 - was kept in third place by Lee Smart, and that meant Brummies needed only a point from the last race.

Redcar did take the first 5-1 of the night through Havelock and Grieves, but Legault's third place was enough for the Brummies to edge it by a point.

BIRMINGHAM: Jason Lyons 12, Kyle Legault 12, Craig Watson 9, Josh Grajczonek 5+2, Lee Smart 3, Jack Roberts 3, Jack Hargreaves 2.

REDCAR: Gary Havelock 12, James Grieves 10+2, Josh Auty 7+1, Benji Compton 6+1, Ty Proctor 6, Chris Kerr 4, Arlo Bugeja 0.