Eastbourne team manager Olli Tyrvainen saluted a superb team effort as the Eagles handed dismal Belle Vue Aces their sixth defeat in as many Elite League meetings this season.

Eagles were favourites to win the match before it started but they would never have thought it would be so easy as they romped to a 49-41 triumph.

Several of the home riders, including Grand Prix man Jason Lyons, struggled to handle the extra dirt on the track while Eastbourne kept their heads and gathered the points.

Tyrvainen said: "There was a lot of dirt down and I told my riders to take it easy early on rather than make mistakes.

"It paid off because several Belle Vue riders slipped off.

"It was a fantastic team effort by my side.

"Everyone was fired up and there was not a real weak spot in the team.

"We have had a lot of engine problems in earlier matches, especially against Coventry, but everything came good tonight."

The points were shared in the first three heats but the Eagles raced ahead in the fourth when they cashed in on Lyons' fall on the first corner.

Skipper Joe Screen won it to give Eastbourne a lead they never lost.

They went further ahead in the fifth heat when Mark Loram and Dean Barker took a maximum against Steve Johnston and Ales Dryml to make it 18-12.

There was a lengthy delay after heat seven for the track to be regraded as neither side were entirely happy with the amount of shale.

Eastbourne made the crucial victory breakthrough in heat 11 when Loram and Barker stormed to a maximum against Lyons and Chris Manchester to lead 36-30.

They repeated the dose in the next race, Davey Watt taking Johnston to follow Dave Norris home for a easy full house as the Belle Vue challenge simply fell apart.

It gave the Eagles a 34-44 lead and they sealed victory in the penultimate heat when Watt took a reserve ride and again came through from third place, passing Manchester to finish second behind tactical substitute Jason Crump, who was Belle Vue's only real threat with an 18-point maximum.

Eastbourne's team effort was emphasised by the fact that five of their riders scored bonus points, Barker leading the way with three while Joonas Kylmakorpi got two.

Belle Vue: Jason Crump 18, Steve Johnston 7, Chris Manchester 7, Carl Stonehewer 5, Josh Larsen 3, Jason Lyons 1, Ales Dryml 0.

Eastbourne: Mark Loram 11, David Norris 10, Joe Screen 10, Dean Barker 7, Davey Watt 6, Gary Stead 3, Joonas Kylmakorpi 2.