Once you get to the quarter final stages of any competition, in any sport, you know there isn't going to be any easy meetings, but the Southampton team did travel to Suffolk in confident mood, looking to extend the long unbeaten run.
Great Blakenham is another new track for the Saints team to get used to, although some had ridden individual meetings on the long tight track, it was the South coast clubs first team visit.
It started well for the visitors; Lee Galley, Gavin Wheeler and Shaun Woodhouse won the first three heats, with the second strings picking up the third places. Captain Pete Robinson stopped Terry Ashford's run into the first bend in the fourth heat, allowing Damon Hurst around the pair to maintain the six-point lead. Galley and Ian Woodhouse lead out of the second bend in heat five, but as Galley tried to tuck in behind Woodhouse, Oli Martin forced his way though the inside gap, also making room for his partner - an uncharacteristic last for Lee, and two points dropped for Southampton.
Worse was to come in heat six, Gavin Wheeler's front wheel slipped from underneath him whilst trying to force his way inside Jason Ashford, Wheeler fell and hindered the progress of Nathan Harris. The first 7-3 pulled the home team within two points of the Saints. But Southampton hit straight back, Colin Wheeler and Shaun Woodhouse jumped out of the gate first in the seventh to regain the six-point lead.
Galley made room for Robinson to cut underneath Paul Brinkoff in heat eight, and Ian Woodhouse won heat nine - although Harris was rounded by Terry Ashford down the back straight to share the points for the fourth time in the first half. The Southerners were looking over their shoulders with only a six point lead, a steady second half would be needed for The Saints to secure that semi final birth.
Heat ten was again shared, then Great Blakenham pulled back two points with a 6-4 over the Wheeler - Woodhouse pairing, Shaun being shown the parts of the track, other riders don't reach. Nathan Harris demonstrated his true form to tuck in behind Gavin Wheeler in heat twelve. Saints held an eight point lead for the first time in the match, and with only six heats remaining could only throw the match away, which they nearly did in heats thirteen and fourteen. Jason Ashford took three laps to get past Galley, and with Robinson's chain jumping off the 7-3 brought the home team within touching distance. Ian Woodhouse also shed a chain whilst in second, Woodhouse crashed to the ground by the starting gate, bringing Colin Wheeler onto the deck with him - Woodhouse was excluded from the re-run, but the team was more worried about the knock he received on his shoulder. Wheeler rode a sensible second place in the re-run, but Great Blakenham were now only a point behind, with four heats remaining.
Now was time for the tough to get going, Ian Woodhouse had dusted himself off from his heavy fall to win the fifteenth, with his son Shaun following him. Gavin Wheeler and Pete Robinson passed Oli Martin on the back straight in heat sixteen to extend the lead to nine points. Shaun Woodhouse and Harris secured a 6-4 in the penultimate heat to secure the match. Lee Galley won the final heat to make safe the semi final birth for the second year in succession for the Southampton team.

Great Blakenham 84
Adam Peck 10
Oli Martin 8+1
Paul Brinkhoff 8
Dave Solomon 16
Graham Wright 13+1
Jason Ashford 16+2
Terry Ashford 9+1
Dan Pike 4

Southampton 95
Pete Robinson12+2
Lee Galley 12+1
Nathan Harris 10+1
Gavin Wheeler 15+1
Colin Wheeler 12
Shaun Woodhouse 15+2
Damon Hurst 4
Ian Woodhouse 15

Referee: Mr Gary Colby (Norfolk)

In the other Quarter Finals:

East London 101
Dennis Hubble 17, Les Stevens 15, Steve Woodruff 15, Kevin Smith 14, Tony Ridgwell 13, Dave Hughes 11, Steve Harvie 9, Alan Smith 7
Bury 77
Rob Pearce 17, Neil Howarth 12, Derek Garnett 11, Fred Rothwell 10, Paul Dyson 9, Steve Mann 7, Dave OíCallaghan 6, Ben Scranage 3
Referee: Mr Mark Benton (Sussex)

Poole 89
Ade Gale 14, Dave Murphy 13, Craig Marchant 13, Pete Young 13, Chris Roberts 12, Richard Clanfield 10, Rob Haywood 9, Kevin Marshallsay 5
Leicester 88
Mark Newey 19, Dave Hemsley 18, Nigel Wragg 15, Mark Whitehead 12, Kevin Burns 11, Mick Skinner 8, Roy Skinner 4, Jim Waring 1
Referee: Mr Dave Hunting (Suffolk)

Wednesfield 97
Kevin Marson 20, Lee Aris 15, Shaun Ellis 13, Leon Yelland 13, Mike Morgans 11, Mick Aris 11, Chris Jewkes 8, Roger Ellis 6
Swindon 80
Steve Harris 16, Danny Harper 15, Craig Nash 12, Paul White 11, Vic Rudman 10, Andy Hill 8, Mark Janes 5, Simon Liggett 3
Referee: Mr Pick Pedley (West Midlands)