WEYMOUTH Doonan Wildcats chairman Phil Bartlett believes it is imperative that his riders make home advantage count when they entertain the Buxton Hitmen in the second round first leg of the Knockout Cup at the Wessex Stadium on Friday.

The first leg was due be held at the Hitmen's home track in Derbyshire yesterday but the meeting was called off due to the wet weather along with today's Conference League tie at Rye House.

The Radipole Lane outfit claimed a fine 51-40 league win over the Stoke Spitfires on Friday and Bartlett admits that the two cancellations have hindered his men from building on their encouraging form.

He said: "I received a call from Rye House yesterday afternoon and to have that and the Buxton meeting called off is a bit of a shame especially after such a good meeting on Friday when we showed some improvements.

"I would have liked us to have won by a bigger margin against Stoke but it was good to see everyone contributing.

"In all honesty we should have hammered them and we threw it away a bit. George Piper hit the dirt on the first turn of his first race and had to withdraw from the meeting and we gave away some points so although it was encouraging there are still improvements to be made.

"This Friday's meeting against Buxton is now even more important because yesterday's cancellation means what was supposed to be the second leg has now become the first leg.

"It is important we give them a right hammering and make home advantage count so we have something to take to their place and get through. The lads have got it all to do and they know what is expected of them."

Weymouth captain David Mason returned to form against Stoke scoring 10 paid one from his five races. Bartlett added: "It was nice to see the skipper lead from the front but we are still not getting everyone doing the business at the same time. It seems one rider performs really well one meeting and another does it the next one. We now just need to get everyone firing at the same time."