HANS Andersen has sent out a defiant message to Belle Vue after their 49-44 triumph at Poole last night – “Don’t write off our Knockout Cup chances just yet.”

Andersen reeled off three of his side’s six race wins on his way to a superb 15-point haul in their quarter-final first leg clash on a difficult, dry, dusty track at Wimborne Road.

He and Bjarne Pedersen, who grabbed 16 paid 17, worked overtime to try and keep six-man Castle Cover Pirates in the two-legged tie after the Aces had taken early charge.

And they did such a good job that the Dorset side were able to trim back a one-time 11-point deficit to only five after the two Danes bagged a 5-1 over Krzysztof Kasprzak in heat 15.

That race win gave Poole some hope of salvaging the tie, although it will need a big effort in the second leg at Kirky Lane on a date to be decided.

But Andersen believes the struggling Dorset club, who have lost 16 of their 21 matches this term, can still produce something special to triumph overall and book a semi-final against Coventry.

The Grand Prix star said: “I think we still have a good chance of getting through.

“Everyone knows Screenie (Joe Screen) has been good for us this season.

“He scored less points than he usually scores tonight but he is great at Belle Vue.

“Chris Holder (who missed last night’s meeting through injury) will be back for the second leg and Bjarne can also go well there.

“He has gone there in the past and beaten Crumpie (Jason Crump) and we all know how good Crumpie is.

“It’s only five points. It’s not all over for us.

“Maybe Charlie Gjedde won’t be at reserve for them then, and you can get 5-1s in two successive races.

“If we do, then we are in the lead then.”

Andersen, whose title-defending club are suffering their worst season since 1998, added: “I didn’t even know we were 11 points down.

“I knew we were behind, but you just try to do your job and get the points you should be getting.

“Speedway is quick. Two 5-1s and the whole situation can change round.

“To be honest we were beaten by track conditions.

“Our boys weren’t able to use their usual set-ups and although it is the same for both sides, we let too much negativity come into our thoughts.

“Let’s not think about it so much, let’s not have negative vibes and just go out and concentrate on our racing.

“We’re not out of the cup and I still feel we can get off the bottom of the league and start climbing the table.

“We just have to have a full team.

“You only have to look at our matches against Lakeside to see what we can do.

“I think we did really well against them, losing by only one point away and drawing at home with just five fit riders, because they are a strong side.

“We want to win at home and we will soon.

“Something has to go our way at some stage and I think it will.”

Holder may have a run-out to test his injured arm and collarbone after Buccaneers’ home National League clash against Isle of Wight tonight (7.30pm).