SOUTHAMPTON Cycle Speedway Club gained a dramatic first Premier League victory of the season at home to a star-studded Wednesfield Aces side.

Captain Shaun Woodhouse was the hero of the last-heat decider, gating round Aces' Richard Williamson from gate two and holding on to win to give Saints a 90-89 success.

The Wolverhampton outfit had taken an early lead in the first half but the Saints fought back and were rewarded in heat nine when Wednesfield's Polish international star Andre Brombosk shed his chain, gifting the Saints a 7-2 heat advantage and a three-point half-time lead.

The Aces, though, led 81-78 with just two heats remaining, the signal for Southampton's Nathan Harris and Lee Galley to claim a 7-3 win.

Southampton: Nathan Harris 14+2 (5), Lee Galley 14+1 (5), Toby Millen 13+2 (5), Shaun Woodhouse 13+1(5), Colin Wheeler 11+2 (4), Lee Ridgewell 12 (5), Ian Grinsell 7+2 (4), Tom Colling 4 (3).

Southampton II paid the price for fielding two riders, Ian Grinsell and Tom Colling, who had also appeared in the first team contest against Wednesfield.

The teams finished 62-62 but the league docked Southampton 12 points.

But the introduction of veteran reserve Mick Pedley, who revelled in the difficult track conditions to win two of the last four heats, sparked an Aces fightback.

Southampton: Ian Grinsell 16+2 (5), Tom Colling 16 (5), Rick Fagon 12+1 (4), Paul Janaway 10 (4), Matt Grinsell 8+2 (4), Richard Hayes 4 (4).

Tomorrow the Saints travel to the Oxfordshire Village of Horspath for more Premier League action.