Astley & Tyldesley took on Stockport in the final home Northern League match of the season. Both sides were understrength and a close match took place. First blood went to A & T with a 6-4 heat win to the Tomasz Wlodarczyk and Mike Hack pairing in heat 2. Roy Heslop was the only finisher in an action packed heat 4, as A & T moved into a 6 points lead. A & T's Polish trio were in great form, consistently winning races, but Stockport were packing the minor places to share the points. An important maximum 7-3 heat win to Mike Hack and Roy Heslop in heat 10 put A & T 10 points ahead and in a strong position. Stockport came back with their own 7-3 heat win in heat 14 to set up a close finish. However, A & T hung on to take the spoils, 90-84.

For A & T, Tomasz Wlodarczyk and Remi Burchardt both raced unbeaten, as did Darek Kurkowski, apart from failing to finish in heat 4, after being dumped in the fence by Chris Eaton. Veteran riders Roy Heslop and Mike Hack both scored vital points to back up the top trio, after being used cleverly as tactical reserves. The points scored by A & T's three youngsters made the difference between winning and losing the match. Jack Lush was Stockport's only race winner, shepherded home in heat 14 by Ian Clark.

Northern League match result.

Astley & Tyldesley 90 Stockport 2006 84

A & T: Tomasz Wlodarczyk 20, Remi Burchardt 20, Darek Kurkowski 16, Mike Hack 12, Roy Heslop 11 (1), Joel Partington 5, Matthew Turnbull 3, William Ross 3.

Stockport: Brian Eaton 13 (2), Derek Garnett 13 (2), Ian Clark 12 (4), Ben Higham 12 (3), Chris Eaton 12, Matt Lush 9 (2), Jack Lush 8(1), Alan Taylor 5 (1).

Referee - Gary Nuttall.

Stockport took the win in the Combination Division match, 67-52. For A & T, Mike Hack won all his four races, with Roy Heslop losing just once to Ben Higham in heat 8. Stockport were older and more experienced than the other A & T riders and this proved decisive, but this was a good experience for A & T's youngsters and they can only get better from it.

Northern Combination League match result.

Astley & Tyldesley 'B' 52 Stockport 2006 'B' 67

A & T: Mike Hack 16, Roy Heslop 15, Joel Partington 8, Adam Thompson 5, Matthew Turnbull 4, William Ross 4.

Stockport: Alistair Lam 13, Jake Read 12 (2), Ben Higham 12 (2), Matt Lush 10 (3), Jack Lush 8 (2), Alan Taylor 7, Derek Garnett 5 (1).