CRADLEY Heathens continued their unbeaten start to the 2015 campaign with an impressive 45-38 victory away at Kent.
The Heathens added four more points to their City Gearboxes National League tally after a hard fought win at Sittingbourne.
It was yet another closely contested third tier meeting that was incident packed throughout.
Cradley found themselves trailing by one point after four heats and their task was made more difficult with Luke Harris being forced to withdraw with a shoulder injury. But that was the only time in the meeting that they would find themselves behind after a great show of character and determination from the rest of the team.
A maximum 5-1 heat advantage in Heat 5 from captain Max Clegg and Arron Mogridge saw the Heathens take a 16-13 lead.
Mogridge tucked in for a second successive paid win in Heat 8 behind Ellis Perks for another Heathens 5-1 to lead 26-21.
The hosts fought back to within one point with ten races gone but yet another Clegg / Mogridge one-two in Heat 11 gave the visitors some breathing space.
A Kent 4-2 in Heat 12 and a share of the spoils in Heat 13 saw the gap reduced to just three points, but a 5-1 from the Heathens' reserves in Heat 14 would seal the victory after the meeting was cut short due to the track curfew being reached.
Heathens Team Manager Will Pottinger said: "It was another great win for the team and everyone chipped in with some important points.
"You've got to give our riders a lot of credit, especially our reserves who stepped up to the task superbly after losing Luke Harris early on.
"We'll take this confidence into Sunday's meeting at Buxton where we go in search of another win on the road."
KENT 38: Ben Morley 12, James Shanes 10, Aaron Baseby 7, Danno Verge 3+1, Adam Sheppard 3, James Couzins 2, Rob Watts 1, Danny Ayres R/R.
CRADLEY 45: Max Clegg 9+1, Michael Neale 9+1, Ellis Perks 9+1, Arron Mogridge 7+4, Matt Williamson 7, Nathan Greaves 4, Luke Harris 0.
