Premier League
Isle of Wight Speedway: Islanders head North without 'Stoj'
By Nick
May 10, 2008, 11:03

The Wightlink Islanders head north early tomorrow (Saturday) morning for away matches in successive days at Berwick and Glasgow but do so without injured Polish No.1 Kryzsztof Stojanowski.

He damaged shoulder ligaments and tendons in a crash at Reading on Bank Holiday Monday and those injuries ruled him out of the return match at Smallbrook the following night as the remaining Islanders extracted swift revenge, demolishing the Berkshire side by 58 points to 34 in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras.

"Stoj" is hoping to be fit for Tuesday's home KO Cup match against Sheffield but Jason Bunyan and his team will have to cope without him on the mini-tour this weekend which starts at the home of the current league leaders, the Berwick Bandits on Saturday night.

After an overnight stay, riders and mechanics will be up early on Sunday to clean and prepare machinery and then the Islanders head over to Glasgow for their match there on Sunday afternoon.

Two matches in less than 24 hours (who said professional footballers have a tough life??) is a tough schedule but one team manager David Croucher and his side are very much looking forward to despite the disappointment of "Stoj" not being fit enough to make the trip.

"Obviously we would have preferred to have him in the side for these two matches," said Croucher, "but we remain confident that we can do well despite being without him and the lads are confident that we can return south on Sunday evening with some league points in the bag and maybe even wins at both venues.

"That might be expecting a lot but it just goes to show the air of confidence flowing through the side at the moment."

WHAT A NIGHT AT SMALLBROOK AS ISLANDERS GAIN SWIFT REVENGE!

The sun shone, the crowds flocked into Smallbrook stadium at Ryde and they witnessed the Wightlink Islanders storm to an emphatic 58-34 Premier League win over the Reading Racers - and all it front of the Sky Sports TV cameras.

Skipper Jason Bunyan and his men were very determined indeed to not only pick up the victory but also to put on a great display for television plus the huge assembled crowd and they did just that - and they did it in style too!

They made light of the absence of injured No.1 Kryzsztof Stojanowski and although just two points up after the first four races at 13-11, they simply stepped up the pressure from that point onwards and their opponents had no answer whatsoever to the home side's blistering performance.

Every one of the Island side won at least one race and, yet again, it was Glen Phillips who led the way romping to a well deserved 15 points score that included three wins and three second places.

TUESDAY'S MATCH RESULT / DETAILS:

Wightlink Islanders 58 Reading Racers 34
(Premier League)

WIGHTLINK ISLANDERS SCORERS (in riding order): Cory Gathercole 9, Glen Phillips 15+1, Paul Fry 11+2, Jason Bunyan 10+1, Andrew Bargh 6+1, James Holder 7+3

READING SCORERS: Mark Lemon 9, Chris Mills 2, Ulrich Ostergaard 12+1, Tomas Suchanek 2+1, Tom P Madsen 5, Jay Herne 1, Joe Haines 3.

LOOKING AHEAD...IT'S KO CUP ACTION AT SMALLBROOK

After heading home from this weekend's two away matches, the Wightlink Islanders will be looking ahead to Tuesday's home match at Smallbrook (usual 7.30p.m. start) and the task they face in having to pull back a 14 points deficit against the Sheffield Tigers if they are to progress into the next round of this year's Premier League KO Cup.

That's following a 52-38 defeat for skipper Jason Bunyan and his men at Owlerton Stadium up there in Yorkshire in the first leg which was a slightly disappointing final scoreline as far as the Wightlink Islanders were concerned.

However co-promoter Dave Pavitt believes it is possible for the Wightlink Islanders to pull back those 14 points and is urging speedway fans on the Island to turn out in force to cheer their team on next Tuesday - just like they did for the match against Reading this week.

"It really was fantastic to see such a big crowd turn out to cheer on the Wightlink Islanders in that match," he said, "and if similar numbers turn up for this vital cup match and cheer the lads on again in the same fashion I truly believe we can make it through to the next round."

THE WIGHTLINK ISLANDERS ARE UP FOR THE CUP THIS TUESDAY - BE THERE TO CHEER THEM ON!