PETERBOROUGH recovered from a sluggish start to take all maximum points with a 51-42 win over spirited Swindon.

PETERBOROUGH recovered from a sluggish start to take all maximum points with a 51-42 win over spirited Swindon.

Missing number one Kenneth Bjerre, the Readypower Panthers had to rely on strength in depth to fight off the visitors’ late surge.

The win maintained their unbeaten home record and Panthers stay in fourth place in the Elite League table.

With Eastbourne visiting the East of England Showground on Monday night (7.30pm) they are closing in on the play-offs while Swindon face a battle to stay out of the relegation zone.

The Wiltshire side, weakened by the loss of new signing Maciej Janowski due to illness, started strongly but a mid-meeting rally saw the Readypower Panthers take a big lead.

Despite an 8-1 from visitors Leigh Adams and Mads Korneliussen, Peterborough hit back and guaranteed the three match points in a dramatic last heat.

Team manager Trevor Swales was pleased with his side’s performance, despite a shaky start: “It was exactly what I thought it’d be, Swindon put up a great fight.

“We knew it was going to be tough, and credit to Swindon because they were a completely different side to the one that came here earlier in the season.

“Leigh Adams was brilliant and he showed why he’s such a top rider. He did exactly what he normally does around here, and you can’t say anything but good things about him.”

He continued: “It was really good to see (Iversen) back amongst the points, he can be so quick around here and it’s great to see him back.

“We’ve got three more points in the bag and we’re another step closer to the play-offs.”

PETERBOROUGH 51 (Peter Karlsson 12, Niels-Kristian Iversen 11:2, Rory Schlein 7, Krzysztof Buczkowski 6:1, Norbert Kosciuch 6:1, Mathieu Tresarrieu 6, Troy Batchelor 3).

SWINDON 42 (Leigh Adams 17, Simon Stead 8:1, Justin Sedgmen 6, Mads Korneliussen 5:2, Grzegorz Zengota 5, Morten Risager 1, Jake Anderson 0).