Oxford shell-shocked after Poole defeat.

Oxford's management, riders and supporters were left shell-shocked as the Poole Pirates plundered victory and the league points at Sandy Lane on Friday night.

The Cheetahs' gating ability totally deserted them as time-and-time again they were left trailing into the first corner by the visitors from Dorset who arrived in confident mood having won at Ipswich the previous evening.

Both World Champion Jason Crump and top Danish international Bjarne Pedersen completed maximums for the Pirates, although Crump was given a mighty battle by improving Cheetahs reserve Eric Andersson in heat 11.

Oxford got off to a dreadful start and Poole flew into a 18-6 lead after four races effectively sewing up the match. Crump won heat 5 by the proverbial mile, but Jesper B Jensen & Steve Johnston came through to relegate young Aussie Troy Batchelor to fourth, as the race was shared.

Heat 6 was brought to a halt after Freddie Eriksson clattered into the back of Poole's reserve Craig Watson on the fourth bend. The re-run saw some fine speedway from Jensen, who picked off Craig Boyce from behind to become Oxford's first race winner of the evening.

Andersson was harshly excluded from a opening bend incident with Edward Kennett in heat 7, and then Kennett & Pedersen picked up a 5-1 over the subdued Pepe Protasiewicz in the re-run.

Eriksson was nominated as Oxford's tactical ride in heat 8. Poole's recent Polish signing Piotr Swist & Batchelor hit the front, but an aggressive third bend from Eriksson took him inside Batchelor and created a hole for Andy Smith to follow through. With Eriksson's points doubled, it meant a 5-3 to the Cheetahs.

Eric Andersson at least provided a moment of cheer for Cheetahs fans by producing a terrific effort in Heat 11, rounding an astonished Crump on the back straight. It took the World Champion until the start of the third lap to regain second place. Meanwhile, race-leader Batchelor threw away a certain victory after spinning around and falling on the third lap.

The next race saw a nasty accident involving Johnston and Watson on the fourth bend, after Watson crashed into the back of the Oxford man. Johnston was controversially excluded by referee Paul Carrington, with both riders eventually getting to their feet.

The Pirates signed off with 12 points from the final three races, in another difficult night for Oxford. There's no action at Sandy Lane this coming Friday as the Cheetahs are away at Essex club Arena Essex Lakeside.