POOLE boss Neil Middleditch vowed the club are ready for a “huge celebration” after taking a huge stride towards a historic treble.

The Wessex Marine Pirates smashed Oxford 57-33 in their Cab Direct Championship KO Cup first leg at Cowley on Wednesday night.

It now means they are red-hot favourites to complete a third trophy success - to add to the league and BSN titles - at Wimborne Road next Wednesday.

The Cheetahs were rocked by losing captain Scott Nicholls in a horrific heat 4 crash when he lifted and tangled with Pirates’ Tom Brennan.

Both riders ploughed into the fence at high speed. Brennan walked away shaken from the incident but Nicholls was ruled out with a dislocated shoulder.

From then on Middleditch’s men ran riot to take total control of the final.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) He said: “We had some luck but you can only race what is put in front of you.

“Our first concern is with Scotty Nicholls. It was an awkward tumble and we hope he makes a speedy recovery.

“The boys dug deep, everyone from one to seven played their part. It’s a great win.

“I was coming here for a win, I always do in any meeting. But we obviously never imagined getting an advantage of that amount.

“We still have to finish the job. Sport is a strange game at times so we will firstly focus on getting it done at Wimborne Road.

“That will potentially make Wednesday night a huge celebration night for the club. To get the treble will be an unbelievable achievement.

“We had great support from the fans here at Oxford and these trophies are won for our faithful supporters.”

(Image: Taylor Lanning) Tobias Thomsen was a shock unknown signing for the club pre-season. But he has been the hero of the finals. After his huge performance in the league Grand Final, he delivered another massive paid 12 score at Cowley.

His fellow reserve Vinnie Foord, subject to constant verbal abuse and boos from the home fans, responded with a high class paid nine score.

Middleditch added: “The reserves have been phenomenal. They got 18 points between them and the 5-1 in heat 2 was always going to be pivotal tonight, even before the crash in heat 4.

“I’ve said it time and time again but reserves win you meetings. Both Tobias and Vinnie have been tremendous in the three meetings with Oxford over the past fortnight. They have made a massive difference.”

(Image: Taylor Lanning) Foord was blamed by Oxford fans for two big crash incidents in the Grand Final clash last week.

But his boss defended him, adding: “Vinnie gives 110 per cent effort. He’s had a lot of bad press lately after the Grand Final second leg. People are confusing enthusiasm and inexperience for being a dirty rider.

“He’s certainly not a dirty rider. There’s no malice in any of the crashes. To be fair they weren’t particularly his fault.

“Toby has been here one season but the smile on his face says it all.”

OXFORD 33: Cameron Heeps: 11+1 (3,1',2,3,1,1); Sam Masters: 8 (3,2,3,R,0); Dan Gilkes: 6+2 (2',2,1,0,1'); Jack Smith: 4 (F,0,2,2); Ashton Boughen: 2+1 (R,0,1,N2,1'); Connor Coles: 2 (1,1,0,0,0); Scott Nicholls: 0 (FD,NS,NS,NS).

POOLE 57: Richard Lawson: 14 (2,3,3,3,3); Tom Brennan: 11+2 (3,1,3,2',2'); Tobias Thomsen: 11+1 (3,3,3,1,1'); Zach Cook: 7+2 (1,2',1',3); Ben Cook: 7 (0,3,2,2); Vinnie Foord: 6+3 (2',2',2',0); Sam Hagon: 1+1 (1',0,RS,0).