If league titles were awarded purely on quality of race action rather than on points, Wolves would have sewn up the 2008 Elite League title several weeks ago.

Sadly, they remain rooted to the bottom of the table – and look set to stay there – following a 52-40 defeat by Ipswich at Monmore Green in their final home League fixture of 2008.

The meeting was an absolute thriller, with passing and re-passing in almost every race, and a fantastic contest in front of the Sky TV cameras which was not decided until the closing heats.

The opening heat saw Witches number one Piotr Swiderski come out on top in a fine battle with birthday boy Fredrik Lindgren, while visiting skipper Steve Johnston beat home debutant Morten Risager in a similar scrap for third, setting the tone for the night perfectly.

The main disappointment of the evening was a slump in form for Jesper B Monberg. Having narrowly lost out to Rory Schlein in his opening ride in heat 4, he then proceeded to slide off on the first turn of each of his next two races.

The highlight of the match for several was the home debut of 17-year old Ludvig Lindgren, who blasted out of the gate to head home his first Monmore ride in a Wolves race jacket in heat 2, but he saved his real heroics for heat 11.

Flying the home flag alone following Monberg’s fall, the teenage Swede’s chain disintegrated in a shower of sparks ending the third lap as he chased the Ipswich pair, but Lindgren pushed his machine for a full lap of the Monmore circuit to secure the all-important third place point.

Promoter Chris Van Straaten was certainly impressed with his two new signings, and added that they had “ridden their socks off” for little reward.

There was still time for fireworks in the last heat. Swiderski led all the way to complete his 15-point maximum, while behind Lindgren and Schlein fought a bruising encounter, with Iversen sweeping around them to take second at the flag – a brilliant race to round off an equally brilliant meeting.

Wolves are next in action at Lakeside on Wednesday evening, before travelling to Coventry on Thursday.