Eastbourne saw a precious National League point slip away last night after their star man fell in the final race.

Bradley Wilson-Dean tumbled in a thrilling tussle with Nathan Greaves for second place in heat 15 of their 48-41 defeat at champions Cradley.

The New Zealander, who raced hard all night, needed to get past to secure a losing bonus for Eagles.

Instead, the 5-1 led by Max Clegg completed a flattering margin for the hosts and left Eagles empty-handed.

They would have taken a bonus point had they lost by six points or less.

Wilson-Dean was in the thick of the action all night – and became a prized scalp for home riders.

He beat Greaves in heat four, was pipped in a good contest by Matt Williamson swooping in off the outside in heat nine and then came around wide at the end of lap three to beat Greaves in heat 11.

That last success led a 4-2 which got Eagles back to 34-32.

Clegg beat the New Zealander in a home 4-2 which edged Cradley 40-37 clear in heat 13 and they were still three points to the good going into the last race.

Eagles sent out Darryl Ritchings, an impressive guest for injured Marc Owen, in heat 15.

Arron Mogridge, from East Grinstead, had a good meeting for Cradley.

He helped them jump out into a 9-3 lead but 5-1s in heats four and five, when David Mason and Richard Andrews scorched clear off the start, gave Eagles a short-lived two-point advantage.

Cradley: Mogridge 11 (4), Clegg 9+1 (5), Greaves 8+1 (5), Williamson 8 (4), Perks 5+1 (6), Neale 5 (4), Harris 2+1 (3).

Eagles: Wilson-Dean 13 (6), Ritchings 11 (6), Mason 7 (5), Dugard 5+2 (3), Andrews 4+1 (5), Wood 1 (5), Warwick r/r.