A SECOND win in two nights for the Buildbase Bees, five straight wins in all competitions, and plenty of positivity all-round after their first home Elite League fixture of the season.
In truth, two points were virtually in the bag as early as Heat 6, but an improved second-half showing from Belle Vue and the new League scoring system enabled the destination of the final point to go right down to the wire - exactly as had been hoped for.
Bees prevailed in the end, despite dropping a few points in the final heats, and Edward Kennett was the man who steered them home with wins in Heats 14 and 15 to complete a very satisfying 14-point haul.
There was also satisfaction for Jordan Frampton, who converted his lively away displays into a good score at home, as he remained unbeaten throughout his first three rides.
As expected, Krzysztof Kasprzak topped the Aces' scorechart, but although most of his team-mates had their moments, there wasn't quite enough consistent support to snatch a point.
Kasprzak certainly started in impressive fashion, clocking the fastest time of the season on his way to winning Heat 1 by a distance as the visitors started with a 4-2, James Wright benefiting from Ben Barker's mechanical breakdown.
Frampton was arguably beaten off the line in Heat 2, but matters were made easier for him by the Aces reserves clashing on their way into the first corner, and Frampton simply rode around them to take the lead. Ricky Wells, meanwhile, was slow away but appeared to have more speed than Steve Boxall during the race although he was unable to find a way through.
But the Bees then stepped things up a notch, first when Olly Allen took Charlie Gjedde wide in Heat 3 to allow Kennett the run on the inside - and Gjedde was out of touch after making an error on the third bend, locking up and going much too wide.
Allen and Kennett then team-rode home ahead of Henning Bager, whilst the next 5-1 in Heat 4 was a straightforward affair for Frampton and Rory Schlein after Ulrich Ostergaard had fallen on the second bend, forcing his team-mate Patrick Hougaard into avoiding action.
Kasprzak was surprisingly squeezed out in a very competitive first corner to Heat 5, and in fact it was Wright who offered the most challenge to Kennett and Allen after Kasprzak's initial effort had failed.
It was another 5-1 to the Bees, and the story continued apace in Heat 6 with Ostergaard being closed down on the first bend, Chris Harris and Barker moving clear to extend the lead to 14 points.
That advantage was then pegged, first when Wells fell on the third bend in Heat 7 having gated almost on terms with Bager and Gjedde, Schlein taking his second win of the night with no real alarms.
And then with Wright nominated for double-points in Heat 8, Frampton made a clever second bend move after a good start to move Wright out and head home the black and white helmet - Barker overhauling Hougaard on turn three for a 4-4.
Finally the Aces notched a second heat win of the night with a smart move by Ostergaard to cut back inside Allen off turn two in Heat 9, but there were no points coming back for the visitors either there or in Heat 10, when they did manage to gain a 3-3 behind Harris as Bager pounced on a slip by Barker.
Kasprzak's winning tactical ride in Heat 11 put a different complexion on matters, and Bees were relieved to see Schlein going inside Wright for second place after seemingly getting too much wheelspin on the start-line.
But the gap was reduced further to the 'magic' seven points in Heat 12 after a frantic battle between Bager and Allen, won impressively by the Belle Vue man who held his nerve well on the last bend as Allen so nearly found a way around the outside.
Kasprzak kept the Aces in the hunt with a fast start in Heat 13 to move clear as the Bees riders were delayed by Ostergaard, who subsequently retired from last place.
The meeting itself was won by the Bees in Heat 14 when Hougaard got too wide and hit the fence on the second bend - but although he tried to clear the track the race was stopped, with Bees in a 5-1 position, and in the re-run Gjedde managed to split Kennett and Frampton to give his side the slimmest of chances of a point.
But that would have required a 5-1 and it was Wright who got the nod to partner Kasprzak, whilst Bees had several options with four riders having been paid for ten points along with Kennett's eleven.
As it turned out, Harris took the ride and duly made the start with Kennett, only for Kasprzak to make a clever turn midway through the race and take second away from Harris on the inside.
But it was still more than enough as far as the Bees were concerned, and an eleven-point win represented another good night's work, ahead of the big clashes with title favourites Swindon next week.
