COVENTRY slipped to an agonising 46-44 defeat in a last-heat decider at Plymouth on Friday.
The Europress Bees did take their first away league point of the season as some consolation, but were so close to a win on the night having led on three occasions – with the Devils only going ahead for the first time in Heat 14.
Top two Jon Armstrong and Connor Mountain both won a series of races but each found themselves at the back in Heats 13 and 15 respectively, and despite their best efforts they were unable to work their way through.
It was harsh on the Bees who covered well for the absence of Danny Phillips throughout an incident-strewn meeting which contained a succession of falls – mainly on the Plymouth side.
Mountain was involved in two early Coventry 5-1s, teaming up with Luke Harris in Heat 1 and Luke Ruddick in Heat 5 as Ryan Terry-Daley and Henry Atkins respectively came to grief for the Devils.
Ruddick, who impressed on his return from injury, had been disqualified in his first ride after going down under Atkins’ challenge in Heat 3, which left him with major bike damage having been collected by Terry-Daley.
The Heat 5 advantage put Bees 17-13 up and it was a lead they maintained through four successive shared heats with Armstrong riding strongly to hold off guest Danyon Hume in Heat 6, and the Coventry captain then took the flag in Heats 8 and 9 as well.
But a mechanical failure for Ruddick in Heat 10 proved costly as he looked set to take the lead only to come to a halt, with Hume and Terry-Daley taking advantage for a match-levelling 5-1.
Mountain’s third win in Heat 11 was backed up by third place for Jamie Halder to put Bees back ahead, and Ruddick rode superbly to defeat Richard Andrews in the next.
But Ben Hopwood ended Mountain’s unbeaten run in Heat 13 as Armstrong missed out, with the Plymouth debutant defending his position strongly in the closing stages of the race.
Bees looked to be up against it in Heat 14 but Harris kept them in with a chance by splitting Atkins and Andrews, although it did put Plymouth 43-41 up with one race to go.
But although Armstrong hit the front in Heat 15, this time it was Mountain who was squeezed out and again it was Hopwood who was on defensive duty for the Devils, leaving Bees just short of a positive result.
Manager Martyn Macdonald said: “We were sort of in control of the meeting, and as a team we held it together until around Heat 9 or 10, but there’s just something lacking and it’s hard to pinpoint where it is.
“I’d say we were above average without being truly special, and we’re very disappointed we didn’t come here and win because these are the meetings we need to win if we’re to be looked at as challengers.
“Jon was very good, very ‘old-school’ Jon Armstrong, and Connor had a very good meeting as well on what’s a very technical track with not much room to manoeuvre, although Jon proved you could pass on it.
“But Henry Atkins rode really well, and in my eyes he did two rides which really won it for them. I’m sure all the fans went home thinking they’d had their money’s worth, but we wanted three or four points from it rather than one.â€
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE PLYMOUTH 46: Ben Hopwood 12+1, Henry Atkins 9+1, Danyon Hume 9, Ryan Terry-Daley 6+4, Richard Andrews 6+1, Macauley Leek 4, Bradley Andrews r/r COVENTRY 44: Jon Armstrong 14, Connor Mountain 11, Luke Harris 7+2, Luke Ruddick 7+1, Jamie Halder 3+2, Ryan MacDonald 2, Danny Phillips r/r National League points: Plymouth 3 Coventry 1
