SPEEDWAY: THE Lakeside Hammers’ home season ended in controversial circumstances with the team drawing their last match at Purfleet with defending champions Poole.

With less than half a lap of the home season left, Lewis Bridger pulled off an incredible passing move on Peter Kildemand in heat 15.

Kildemand then lost his chain which allowed newest Hammer Danny King to grab second place.

The Hammers were left fuming, however, when Kildemand was allowed in the re-run by referee Mr Carrington, even though he wasn’t under power when the original race was stopped.

Hammers team manager Neil Vatcher said: “I was absolutely fuming as the race restarted and though it still doesn’t forgive such a poor decision, justice was done on that last bend and it was a draw that really felt like a win to us and judging by the reaction in the Poole pits, a defeat to them.”

Hammers co-promoter Jon Cook added: “We’ve enjoyed a fantastic season of excitement and great racing at the Raceway and though we’ve come up short in the league, I can’t fault the riders for their efforts of late.

“Ultimately defeat at home to Coventry came too late in the day to recover from, but we’ve finished the year with predominantly a young team of chargers and our time will come.”

The team, who are sixth in the table, will complete it’s Elite League fixtures away at King’s Lynn on Tuesday, September 16.

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