PETER Schroeck called Oxford Cheetahs’ defeat to Edinburgh Monarchs ‘unacceptable’ as the Sandy Lane outfit failed to end their regeneration season on a high.

The visitors fought back from ten points down to win the last-heat decider 4-2 and complete a 46-44 turnaround victory.

The triumph could prove crucial to fourth-place Edinburgh’s play-off push, while Cheetahs were racing with only pride on the line.

But it did not stop Schroeck venting his frustration at the manner of defeat as his team finished their comeback season ninth in the SGB Championship.

The Cheetahs coach said: “It’s the first time I’ll say it’s not acceptable.

“We were ten in front and to end up like this is not right.

“We just have to rebuild, put our thinking caps on and start again.

“I’m quite upset, I expected a little bit more than that.

“We had a good season overall but I’m not happy about this result.

“This is probably one of the most bitter pills to swallow of the whole season.”

This was always going to be a celebratory campaign for Cheetahs as speedway returned to the city for the first time since 2007.

But Schroeck’s focus is already on improving their performance next year.

“I’m not going to accept things like what happened tonight, to be ten in front and throw it away,” he said.

“It’s been another lovely evening for speedway, but for me this is not good enough.

“When you’re in a position of winning, I want to win.

“We just have to brush that one under the carpet and start again for the new season.”

Cheetahs raced into a 20-10 lead after five heats and Troy Batchelor’s victory in a shared seventh race maintained the ten-point advantage at 26-16.

But Edinburgh began to reel them in and star man Josh Pickering led Kye Thomson to a 5-1 in the 12th to slash the gap to 38-34.

Successive 4-2s levelled the scores at 42-42, before Pickering and Thomson teamed up in the decider to edge out second-placed Batchelor and Scott Nicholls, in fourth.

Batchelor top-scored for Cheetahs with 13, while Aaron Summers collected ten in his final meeting at Sandy Lane before he returns to his native Australia.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed my time here and I think I’ve done as good as I could for the club. It’s a pity it didn’t happen a little bit earlier.

“The boys put in a massive effort to get it up and running and make it what it is.

“The fans have been awesome, it’s a shame I’m going home but it’s got to happen.”

SCORERS

OXFORD 44: Troy Batchelor 13, Aaron Summers 10, Scott Nicholls 8, Dillon Ruml 6+2, Cameron Heeps 5+1, Paul Starke 2+1, Jack Thomas r/r.

EDINBURGH 46: Josh Pickering 17, Paco Castagna 7+1, Kye Thomson 6+2, Kyle Howarth 6, Lasse Fredriksen 5+2, Jacob Hook 3+1, James Sarjeant 2.

Championship points: Oxford 0, Edinburgh 3.