SOME minor surgery could well have a major impact on Panthers' season.

Team boss Trevor Swales' reshuffle of his second string riders reaped instant rewards as the city side brought their home hoodoo to an end by brushing aside a somewhat depleted Belle Vue last night.

Switching around Claus Vissing and Henning Bager certainly wasn't the major overhaul that many felt the Panthers side required after a forgettable opening half to the season, but it quickly became apparent at Alwalton that it was an inspired move.

Vissing powered to a handsome 8+2 points return and, in his first meeting wearing the number two race-jacket, immediately formed a cracking partnership with captain Hans Andersen.

And Bager, who had endured some serious struggles in the past few weeks, clicked back into form in his new home at number four by managing six points, forming a good understanding with partner Kenneth Bjerre and playing a part in a match-clinching heat 14 maximum.

They were two vital entries to a healthy Panthers scorechart in which every rider -Premier League guest booking Simon Lambert included - contributed solidly.

Bjerre left his recent performances well behind to top the Peterborough pile with a handy 11+1 and skipper Andersen added another 11 after having his maximum hopes ended by Showground master Jason Crump in heat 13.

While one swallow doesn't make a summer, this success certainly put a smile back on Swales' face.

"It was vital to get back to winning ways at home," he admitted. "And hopefully this result can provide the boost in confidence we needed after a few defeats lately.

"We might have caught Belle Vue at the right time as they were missing a couple of riders and had another in Patrick Hougaard making his debut, but I was very impressed with what I saw from my team.

"The boys seemed hungrier than I have seen them for ages. They were really up for it, they wanted to get the victory and they did it."

Panthers' new-found desire was obvious from the word 'go' as they swiftly set about establishing a big cushion.

Andersen and Vissing slammed in a shock maximum in the opener as Crump uncharacteristically trailed in at the back after being squeezed out in the first turn.

And there was plenty more of the same as Lambert won a tough duel with Aces guest Robert Mear before following home Morten Risager in the second race.

Only a lapse in concentration from Bager, when he lost second place in heat three to Billy Forsberg on the final lap, prevented a third successive 5-1 but a 10-point lead certainly eased the pressure on Panthers.

Danny King was a fortunate beneficiary of some cruel mechanical problems for Joe Screen when pinching the win only inches from the finish line in heat four, but Crump soon set about mounting an Aces recovery when taking all six points available for his tactical ride in the next.

The teams traded 4-2s as Panthers built their lead back up to nine points (Andersen and Vissing in winning form) before the margin increased to a whopping 13 points (the sort of advantage not seen at Alwalton for many months) following a dramatic 10th heat.

Referee Stuart Wilson was called into action to exclude Forsberg for sending Vissing careering into the second bend fence, and the visitors were made to pay the ultimate price when the Dane picked himself up to secure a 5-1 in the re-run after surging round the outside of Screen.

Belle Vue ensured there was still plenty of life left in the contest when Crump and guest Lewis Bridger took full value from the next race and the Manchester men then claimed a rarely seen 4-3 verdict in heat 12.

While Bjerre took the chequered flag by a country mile, Belle Vue tactical substitute Bridger recovered a 15-metre starting handicap to collar Lambert for third place on the last lap.

Crump finally gained a victory over Andersen at the fifth attempt this week with an audacious third bend move in heat 13, but the result was firmly put beyond doubt in the penultimate instalment.

Risager finished how he started by claiming a heat success and Bager did the rest by extracting enough speed from his favoured inside line to dash past Forsberg and Hougaard.

Bjerre came up just short as he attempted to collar Crump in the final heat but that couldn't dampen the delight of a welcome return to form for both that man and the whole Panthers team.

The dark clouds were well and truly hovering after two successive home defeats, but the outlook is certainly brighter now with rock-bottom Wolverhampton due to roll into the Showground next Thursday.

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