Ricky Wells made a good start but Danny King was like lightning away from the line and came within a whisker of the track record, with Mason Campton slotting into third.
Matt Williamson looked untouchable from the gate in heat two, setting his fastest time around Workington, while Adam Roynon was all over the back of Joe Jacobs. The Comet couldn’t get close enough for a pass until a hair-raising final bend when he was just squeezed out by the Witch.
Ben Barker nailed the start in heat three but Kenneth Hansen cut inside and drove up the inside to stun the visitor. Ryan Blacklock pulled up leaving Luke Priest to slot into third but Hansen was long gone, setting his own fastest time on the track this season to secure the draw.
Claus Vissing seized the lead from the first bend in heat four but almost ran into the fence allowing Morten Risager to snatch the place. Williamson battled valiantly to keep Danyon Hume behind in third while Vissing pushed but couldn’t quite catch the Ipswich No.5 for another draw.
King started like a cork from a bottle but Hansen was quicker and blocked the star before disappearing into the distance. Blacklock struggled at the back but Hansen notched his fastest ever time around Workington to share the points again.
Wells beat everyone to the first bend in heat six and wound it on while Campton was steady in third behind Risager.
Vissing hit the front early on in heat seven but first Roynon then Barker dashed past him and the Witch roared round Roynon and controlled the race as the field became stretched for a 3-3.
Elbows were flying at the start of heat eight and Williamson came off worst at the back but his teammate Campton won in style for a fifth draw.
Risager bolted from the gate but Hansen was glued to his back wheel and produced a jaw-dropping pass on the third and fourth bend for the win, while Blacklock trailed Hume at the back by a distance for yet another 3-3.
Campton and Wells were quick but couldn’t keep Barker at bay in heat 10 and set a blistering pace to keep his side within four points of Comets.
The Witches sprung a surprise in heat 11 with King and James Sarjeant charging into the lead but Vissing eventually reeled in the latter to limit the away side to a 4-2.
Jacobs gated but Hansen sprinted up the inside. Barker then rocketed from last to first on the back straight, squeezing through the narrowest of gaps to take an impressive win ahead of Hansen and Jacobs.
Wells rode magnificently with one of the rides of the night to keep the tenacious King behind in heat 13, while Vissing held firm in third as Comets wrestled the momentum back with a 4-2.
Williamson stepped in for Blacklock in the penultimate heat while Jacobs slotted in for Ipswich and it was the duo who did battle at the front. Jacobs had the better of the Comet but Roynon was comfortable in third as the points were shared to set up a blockbuster finale.
Wells got the vital burst out of the gate and brushed off King for a draw which secured the win at last for Workington.
Workington Comets: Ricky Wells 13, Kenneth Hansen 11, Mason Campton 6+2, Claus Vissing 6+1, Matt Williamson 6+1, Adam Roynon 4+1, Ryan Blacklock 0
Ipswich: Ben Barker 12+1, Danny King 12, Joe Jacobs 7+1, Morten Risager 7, James Sarjeant 4+1, Luke Priest 1+1, Danyon Hume 1+1.
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