Astley & Tyldesley rounded off their 2008 outdoor season when they took on Stoke in a Northern League match at Gin Pit on Sunday.

On a glorious sunny afternoon, an exciting match took place on a fast, grippy track. Stoke held a slender 1 point lead after heat 4 before disaster struck A & T, as first Ben Dickenson and then Remi Burchardt were excluded for starting infringements and Stoke moved into a 7 points lead. Stoke's tactics were clear, to defend their gifted lead and then they extended their lead when Burchardt suffered another gate exclusion in heat 13. Stoke went on to win the match, 94-82, to set up a title decider when they go to Hull next week. With Edinburgh winning their re-arranged home match against Bury, this result means that A & T have finished 4th in the final Northern League table.
 
A & T fought hard against the league leaders, but once behind were unable to claw back the deficit. Tomasz Wlodarczyk and Darek Kurkowski were in great form for A & T, each scoring 18 points, as was Dariusz Pilas, who's score was reduced when legged off in heat 18 by Lewis Bates in an incident that went unspotted by the referee. Bates' maximum hopes went when he fell within feet of the finishing line in heat 14. The inclusion of Wednesfield riders Lewis Bates and Garry Pearce was undoubtedly a key factor in Stoke's win, as the two riders top scored for the visitors.
 
Northern League match result
Astley & Tyldesley 82 Stoke 94
A & T: Tomasz Wlodarczyk 18 Darek Kurkowski 18 Dariusz Pilas 16, Remi Burchardt 10 (1), Mick Knowles 7 (1), Joe Allen 7, Ben Dickenson 3, Andy Knowles 3.
Stoke: Lewis Bates 18, Garry Pearce 16 (1), Errol Thaw 16, Simon Munden 12 (3), Richard Harrison 11, Leighton Bates 9 (3), Adam Ellis 6 (1), Cameron Bates 6.
Referee - Gary Nuttall.
 
Stoke also took the points in the Combination (2nd team) match, winning 65-55. Veteran Mike Hack top scored for A & T with 12 points and received good support from Roy Heslop, Luke Jamson and Joel Partington. Cameron Bates, Adam Ellis and Lance Bates all raced unbeaten for Stoke.
 
Northern Combination League match result
Astley & Tyldesley 'B' 55 Stoke 'B' 65
A & T: Mike Hack 12 (1), Luke Jamson 11 (1), Joel Partington 9 (3), Roy Heslop 9 (2), Laura Watson 7, Adam Watson 5, Stefan Whitelegg 2.
Stoke: Adam Ellis 16, Lance Bates 16, Cameron Bates 15 (1), Terry Brayford 8, Emika Forbes 5 (1), Matt Bailey 5.
Referee - Gary Nuttall.