Workington Comets were humbled at home by Ipswich as their hopes of a serious play-offs push were dealt a devastating blow by the high-flying Witches.

Danny King fired a warning shot with a win ahead of guest Josh Grajczonek and Mason Campton in the opening heat.

Comets failed to heed that warning as ex-Comet Nathan Greaves won comfortably and only a James Sarjeant pass on Connor Mountain prevented an away 5-1.

Greaves was in the thick of it again in heat three, following Ty Proctor over the line with Cameron Heeps third to share the points and keep the Witches two points up.

They doubled that lead with a 4-2 through Rory Schlein and Mountain in heat four, before King and Kyle Newman eased to a 5-1 from the gate in heat five to put Comets in real trouble.

Grajczonek and Campton managed to chip away at the gap with a 4-2 in heat six as Schlein split the pair, but Thomas Jorgensen’s win in heat seven couldn’t do the same as Sarjeant fell while last for a draw.

Another shared in heat eight came courtesy of a fine Campton win, with Sarjeant last again, then Proctor and Williamson chased Schlein for another 3-3 in heat nine.

A 5-1 in heat 10 gave hope of a Comets revival as Grajczonek and Campton put in a brilliant four laps, but it was immediately wiped out by an Ipswich 5-1 from Newman and King.

Proctor controlled heat 12 but Sarjeant was last again as Comets continued to be comprehensively outscored at reserve, before Ipswich devastated the hosts with back-to-back 5-1s in heats 13 and 14 to end the meeting as a contest and leave Workington with much food for thought.

Grajczonek did his best to restore some pride with victory in the final heat, while Proctor followed Schlein in third, but the performance and another home defeat all but ended Workington’s hopes of reaching the top four.

Workington Comets 39

1. Josh Grajczonek – 2, 3, 3, 0, 3 = 11

2. Mason Campton – 1*, 1, 3, 2* = 7+2

3. Ty Proctor – 3, 1, 2, 3, 1 = 10

4. Matt Williamson – 0, 0, 1*, 1 = 2+1

5. Thomas Jorgensen – 2, 3, 1, 1 = 7

6. James Sarjeant – 2, F, 0, 0, 0 = 2

7. Paul Bowen – 0, 0, 0 = 0

Ipswich Witches 51

1. Danny King – 3, 3, 2*, 3 = 11+1

2. Kyle Newman – 0, 2*, 1*, 2, 3, R = 8+2

3. Cameron Heeps – 1*, 2, 1, 2, 2* = 8+2

4. Justin Sedgmen R/R

5. Rory Schlein – 3, 2, 3, 2*, 2 = 12+1

6. Nathan Greaves – 3, 2, 1*, 0, 1* = 7+2

7. Connor Mountain – 1, 1, 0, 0, 3 = 5

HEAT BY HEAT

HEAT 1 – King, Grajczonek, Campton, Newman – 62.4, 3-3

HEAT 2 – Greaves, Sarjeant, Mountain, Bowen – 64, 2-4, 5-7

HEAT 3 – Proctor, Greaves, Heeps, Williamson – 63.2, 3-3, 8-10

HEAT 4 – Schlein, Jorgensen, Mountain, Bowen – 62.9, 2-4, 10-14

HEAT 5 – King, Newman, Proctor, Williamson – 63.3, 1-5, 11-19

HEAT 6 – Grajczonek, Schlein, Campton, Mountain – 63.2, 4-2, 15-21

HEAT 7 – Jorgensen, Heeps, Newman, Sarjeant (fell) – 63.6, 3-3, 18-24

HEAT 8 – Campton, Newman, Greaves, Sarjeant – 64.2, 3-3, 21-27

HEAT 9 – Schlein, Proctor, Williamson, Greaves – 63.7, 3-3, 24-30

HEAT 10 – Grajczonek, Campton, Heeps, Mountain – 64.9, 5-1, 29-31

HEAT 11 – Newman, King, Jorgensen, Bowen – 64.3, 1-5, 30-36

HEAT 12 – Proctor, Heeps, Greaves, Sarjeant – 64.5, 3-3, 33-39

HEAT 13 – King, Schlein, Jorgensen, Grajczonek – 64.4, 1-5, 34-44

HEAT 14 – Mountain, Heeps, Williamson, Sarjeant – 66.2, 1-5, 35-49

HEAT 15 – Grajczonek, Schlein, Proctor, Newman (retired) – 64.9, 4-2, 39-51