DANNY Ford feels the battle to secure top spot in the SGB Championship this year will go down to the wire.

Pirates moved above Oxford Cheetahs on points difference after Wednesday’s 52-38 win over Redcar Bears.

Both clubs now have 24 league points, with four regular season meetings remaining.

Poole’s remaining fixture schedule looks more favourable, with three home meetings, starting on Sunday against Edinburgh Monarchs (5pm).

“I genuinely think it will go down to the final weekend before the cut-off, when Oxford go to Glasgow,” Pirates promoter Ford told the Daily Echo.

“I think that will be the telling one. It’s definitely exciting.

“Oxford have led from the start of the season and ran away with it when we had a few fixtures in hand. Now we’ve caught up with them and the momentum is maybe on our side a little bit more.

“I’m really looking forward to it. Oxford are a great team and if we can pip them to top spot, that’s definitely the goal.”

Pirates’ latest win provided plenty of thrills and spills as the hosts recovered from an early deficit to storm to victory.

Redcar were hampered by the loss of number one and captain Charles Wright earlier in the week, forced to cover him with rider replacement.

Reflecting on Wednesday’s win over Redcar, Ford added: “It was a fantastic meeting. That was perhaps the most exciting meeting of the season, some great races.

“It was unfortunate that Redcar were missing Charles (Wright), he’s a very exciting rider with a never-say-die attitude.

“That was a big loss for them and only being able to cover with R/R probably didn’t quite do what he would’ve scored justice.

“But we can only race what’s in front of us and the boys delivered in comprehensive and professional style. It was an entertaining meeting through, I felt.”