Eastbourne's Elite League hopes were ended in Manchester last night by titles favourites Belle View.

But the Eagles gave the Aces a real scare before going down in the play-off semi-final.

With Belle View having topped the table to claim home advantage it was always likely to be Mission Impossible for Eastbourne.

It was only in the closing stages, however, that the Aces were able to pull away to clinch a two-legged final against Coventry, who beat Peterborough 55-41 in the other semi-final last night.

Eagles can take heart from their performance, though, with the teams likely to meet again in the KO Cup final next month, providing the Eagles successfully defend their first leg lead in the semi-final return at Arena-Essex.

The Eagles got off to a flying start with a 4-2 in the first race, Dean Barker outgating last year's deposed world champion Jason Crump and Adam Shields passing Simon Stead on the first lap. Andrew Moore then won the reserves race.

The Aces took a lead they never lost with a 5-1 in heat three, Jo Screen rounding Barker on the fourth bend and Jason Lyons easing into second place at the start of the second lap.

Crump won heat four from Eastbourne's guest rider Mark Loram who was replacing the ill Nicki Pedersen. That was the start of five successive drawn races, which included heat wins for Loram and Shields.

The sequence was broken in heat nine when Lyons beat Loram and Screen claimed third in a 4-2 which extended Belle View's lead to 29-25.

Lyons, taking his rider replacement outing for the injured Kenneth Bjerre, won the next race which resulted in a another 4-2 for the Aces.

Shields held out Crump in heat 11 before the home skipper eventually burst through for a win and Aces took a stranglehold with a 5-1 in the 12th to lead 41-31.

Loram rode a double points scoring tactical ride in heat 13 but it could only finish second behind Crump in a 4-4.

Davey Watt had one last tactical ride which he needed to win to keep the match alive but Aces sealed victory when Lyons and reserve Andy Smith gated and relegated Watt to third for a match clinching 5-2.