Hastings-born Lee Richardson led Coventry to a vital victory over the Eagles at Eastbourne last night.

The 46-44 win left the visitors top of the table while the Eagles face a dogfight to make speedway's Elite League play-offs.

Eastbourne are fourth in the table but are coming under increasing pressure for the last play-off place from both Wolverhampton and Oxford.

The Eagles have now won only one of their last six matches.

In another thrilling Eastbourne-Coventry match, the visitors took the lead in heat 11 and with two races to go were six points ahead.

Dean Barker and David Norris sped to a 5-1 in heat 14 and made a desperate bid to repeat the result in the deciding heat 15.

Barker zipped to victory while Norris battled all the way but in the end was pipped for third place by Richardson, the son of former Eastbourne favourite Colin.

Coventry first took the lead in heat 11 when Billy Hamill and Billy Janniro gated to a 5-1.

Joonas Kylmakorpi tried all he knew to pass Janniro but the young American kept his cool and held on for the vital second place.

It took six races before either team enjoyed a heat advantage.

Norris and Todd Wiltshire, who was guesting for the injured Mark Loram, broke the deadlock when they made the start and left the Coventry duo trailing.

The visitors came straight back with a 4-2 as the action continued in front of the Sky TV cameras.

Janniro walked away from a spectacular crash in heat eight after coming under pressure from Norris.

Peter Ljung's nightmare continued for Eagles. He was passed by both Coventry reserves in heat two. Two races later he looked set to secure only his second Elite League point of his four-match Eastbourne career. Off the last bend his bike seemed to fade and Andreas Jonsson niped through to take third place.

Jonsson struggled in his first two races on his return from injury but once he started scoring points Eastbourne were always in trouble.

It is looking increasing unlikely that Loram will be fit to contest the British Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday night.

The arm he broke on Good Friday is still giving him pain and he plans another fitness test on Thursday.

His manager Norrie Allen said the signs were not looking good.

Although Norris scored 13 points he is still in serious pain from his elbow and it is not clear when he will return to full fitness.

Eastbourne: Dean Barker 14, David Norris 13, Joonas Kylmakorpi 6, Jo Screen 5, Todd Wiltshire 4, Adam Shields 2, Peter Ljung 0.

Coventry: Lee Richardson 13, Billy Hamill 13, Andreas Jonsson 6, Scott Robson 5, Stuart Robson 3, Jason Bunyan 3, Billy Janniro 3.

Bonus points: Wiltshire 2, Shields 2, Barker 1, Kylmakorpi 1: Janniro 2, Jonsson 2, Richardson 1, Scott Robson 1.