Eastbourne’s play-off hopes suffered a double blow – on the night they staged perhaps their best meeting of the year.

Eagles beat long-time Elite League leaders 49-44 in a terrific tussle before an above average crowd at Arlington.

But the dropped point could cost their play-off hopes dear.

Especially as rivals Swindon made the most of injury-hit Leicester’s woes to take four points on the road.

Eagles, who have not won away from home for more than two years, probably need to do so three times in their six remaining meetings to squeeze into the top four.

If this was their final home meeting of the season – or longer than that – they went out in style as far as entertainment goes.

There was plenty of fast, hard, competitive racing and several thrilling passes as the hosts completed an unbeaten home campaign.

They had 5-1s in heats three, four and five and led 33-21 before a double-points win for Rory Schlein in heat ten pegged the advantage back to seven.

Four of the five remaining races ended as 3-3s.

But the one which did not – a King’s Lynn 4-2 in heat 14 led by Nicklas Porsing ahead of Joonas Kylmakorpi - proved key.

That cut the lead to five points and Kenneth Bjerre raced away from the tapes in heat 15 (see video) to secure a 3-3 which gave Lynn a losing bonus point.

Guest Lewis Bridger came home second in that one and was the pick of the home team.

James Sarjeant was also an impressive guest at reserve while Bjerre’s last place when taking the first tactical ride was a rare blemish on a good night at a track he seems to enjoy.

But Swindon's 52-37 win at depleted Leicester puts them four points ahead of Eagles.

Eagles: Bridger 12+1 (5), Kylmakorpi 10 (4), Pedersen 9+2 (5), Sarjeant 8+2 (5), Lahti 5+1 (4), Woodward 4+2 (4), Halsey 1 (3).

King’s Lynn: Kerr 12 (6), Bjerre 10+1^ (5), Schlein 9^ (5), Porsing 6 (4), Nicholls 5 (4), Morley 1 (3), Lemon 1 (3).