STAND-IN skipper Cameron Woodward admitted he had to keep an eye on the scoreboard for a change after leading Eastbourne Eagles to another home win.

The Arlington club battled to beat Coventry Bees 50-40 in an entertaining Elite League clash between two makeshift teams.

Woodward took over the captaincy as senior Eastbourne rider but struggled early on to cope with a track which was grippier than most riders expected.

The Aussie makes no secret of the fact he does not usually look at the overall score when he is having a bad time, preferring to get his own game right.

But he had to break that habit this time as his side, having led 31-23, saw their lead pegged back to four points going into the last three races.

A 4-2 involving guest Adam Shields and reserve Simon Gustafsson in heat 13 eased nerves.

Victory was secured in the next race as Gustafsson made a superb start off gate one and Woodward went flying outside him for a decisive 5-1.

The first-time skipper did not seem to know what to do when he won the toss for choice of starting gates before the meeting. But he gradually settled into the role.

He said: "Captaincy? It's a bit of responsibility, I suppose.

"I had to look at the scoreboard a few times and it was getting a bit close. I am still learning and I made a few mistakes but I encouraged the boys like I always do.

"I struggled because I had an engine softened for a slick track but the track was actually quite heavy.

"I was always positive we were going to win, though. It was just closer than I thought it would be."

Woodward was the last man standing from the top fives of either side in what turned into something of an all-star meeting. Coventry were already due to arrive without four of their main body due to injuries to Chris Harris and Billy Janniro and GP qualifying meetings for Rory Schlein and Simon Stead.

When Oliver Allen was injured on Friday night racing against Poole, it meant the Bees' top five was made up of four guests and rider-replacement.

Eagles were already missing Lee Richardson and Edward Kennett to GP commitments. Scott Nicholls then had to pull out through injury.

When another rollercoaster night for Lewis Bridger, who was within a second of the new track record in winning heat one, ended in a crash with Steve Johnston, Woodward was the last top-five man from either club still in action.

Step forward Gustafsson, who took Bridger's r/r outing in heat 13 and clinched the 4-2 advantage which left Eagles on the brink of victory.

In fact, it could have been better because he was on a paid-win before being passed by Henning Bager on the last lap.

The young Swede's impressive form, especially off the start, will be Eagles' biggest plus from this somewhat unusual meeting as they head for a two-week break enforced by the World Cup.

Team boss Trevor Geer said: "Simon did a good job for us. He is more aggressive in his riding now and he is all the better for it.

"It was a good meeting. You would rather have something like that than a walkover win."

Eagles got good service from their guests. Bjarne Pedersen looked terrific in winning his first three rides but was then beaten three times by Bees' stand-in Freddie Lindgren, who was flying by the end of the meeting.

Shields endeared himself to the home public too, declaring Arlington as his favourite track and then only being denied what looked a certain maximum when Chris Schramm popped out of the gate in heat 11 and held off a stern attack from the Aussie.

What did you think of Saturday's meeting?