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| |  | BIRMINGHAM rounded off their home league programme with a 47-43 win over Ipswich.
It finally ended their 14 fixture winless run - since they last beat the Witches at Perry Barr three months ago.
After a shared opening race, the Curtis Sport Brummies moved ahead with a 5-1 in the restart of Heat Two with quick getaways from Leon Flint and Michael Palm Toft.
But the visitors drew back level instantly when guest duo Sam Masters and former Brummie Troy Batchelor got the better of home stand-in Simon Lambert and Zach Cook.
Tom Brennan dominated a shared Heat Four before the Witches edged in front as guest No.1 Richard Lawson made it two from two with Cook able to keep Dan Thompson in third.
Another 3-3 was forced in the sixth; Freddie Lindgren produced a smart pass under Danny King at the end of lap one, but Palm Toft packed up whilst in third as they entered the final lap.
The Brummies reserve was back out in the next race though and picked up a hard fought third place this time around whilst Brennan made it two from two to level the scores once more.
A third ride on the spin, Palm Toft then passed both Ipswich riders on the opening lap of Heat Eight before Lambert and Cook moved the Brummies back in front with a 5-1 in Heat Nine.
The hosts temporarily doubled their advantage to eight points with a second straight maximum in the tenth courtesy of Brennan and Lindgren.
Lawson then led a 4-2 for the hosts before coming in as a Tactical Substitute and partnering Masters for a 5-1 in Heat 12 with the scores now at 37-35 in the Brummies’ favour.
But Heat 13 brought the house down at Perry Barr as Lawson got beaten for the first time; Lindgren made a superb start before Brennan got by the Witches No.1 for the night heading into lap two.
Many were expecting Heat 14 to be awarded when Palm Toft slid off at the back - but the re-run worked in Birmingham’s favour as Cook produced a stunning ride to go from third to first on lap three to mathematically secure victory with a race to spare.
The Brummies head to Ipswich on Thursday (August 29, 7.30pm) for the return leg at Foxhall in their last league fixture of the year.
BIRMINGHAM 47: Tom Brennan 15+1, Freddie Lindgren 9+2, Zach Cook 9+1, Michael Palm Toft 6+1, Simon Lambert 5, Leon Flint 3, Piotr Pawlicki r/r.
IPSWICH 43: Richard Lawson 13+1, Sam Masters 10, Troy Batchelor 6+1, Jordan Jenkins 4+2, Danny King 4+1, Dan Thompson 3+1, Cameron Heeps 3.
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