A NIGHT that promised so much ultimately delivered so little.

The Panthers camp had made no secret of their belief that this trip could provide a potentially priceless away success and launch a surge up the Elite League standings.

Despite two previous trips to Foxhall ending in 31 and 30-point maulings earlier in the campaign, Panthers sensed blood this time around.

That feeling intensified when they discovered their asset – and Ipswich's brightest star - Piotr Swiderski had pulled out of a date with his parent club in late afternoon through illness.

And for half-a-meeting it looked as though this most outlandish of predictions might turn into a reality with Panthers only six points adrift and pushing their hosts hard.

It looked an ideal position from which to cast their own winning spell on the Witches, but Panthers rapidly ran out of magic.

Some below-par individual performances from Trevor Swales' men, coupled with some clever use of the rules and a shrewd guest booking by Ipswich bosses, ensured the city side would soon be licking their own wounds rather than inflicting pain on the hosts.

No-one was more guilty in the former category than Panthers' talismatic captain Hans Andersen who endured a second poor return to his old stomping ground this season.

Andersen was plagued by equipment trouble on his way to recording a feeble, tactical-ride boosted eight points for the second successive Foxhall visit.

It was a return matched by fellow heat leaders Kenneth Bjerre and Danny King, but exceeded by star man Morten Risager who was paid for 10 points at reserve.

On the other hand, Swiderski's absence left the Witches without two riders – him and long-term injury victim Chris Louis – but it was a position that actually made them stronger.

Guest booking Rory Schlein slotted into Louis' place and promptly roared to an 11+1 haul (his hopes of a maximum only being undone by a retirement when leading heat 14) while the rider replacement facility yielded nine points for Swiderski's four rides.

"We are in a losing run and we can't get out of it," admitted Swales. "But something has got to change because it is going to be a long season if this continues."

And the last thing Panthers need is their star man not shining.