Paddy DavittScunthorpe 55, King's Lynn 37 Lynn's Premier League hoodoo struck again on Friday at cross-border rivals Scunthorpe.Rob Lyon's men suffered another heavy league defeat at the Eddie Wright Raceway following a similar reverse for the treble-winning Stars last season.Paddy Davitt

Scunthorpe 55, King's Lynn 37

Lynn's Premier League hoodoo struck again on Friday at cross-border rivals Scunthorpe.

Rob Lyon's men suffered another heavy league defeat at the Eddie Wright Raceway following a similar reverse for the treble-winning Stars last season.

Kozza Smith's opening flag was the perfect start for the visitors but a mid meeting maximum barrage put the hosts in control before Scunthorpe edged four of the final five heats.

Lynn tracked Sheffield guest Richard Hall after original choice Ty Proctor was ruled out with a damaged shoulder injured during the Stars' midweek Premier League KO Cup romp against Glasgow.

Stand-in skipper Kevin Doolan was unable to re-produce similar heroics from that Tigers home win with Linus Eklof and Darren Mallet both struggling on the tight circuit.

Smith flew from the traps to guide Hall home with David Howe and Scunthorpe's new signing Tero Aarnio trailing in a re-run opener. Casper Wortmann dived inside Lynn old boy Simon Lambert in the reserves but National League graduate Gary Irving cashed in on Mallett's mechanical gremlins.

Carl Wilkinson powered around the outside on the final lap after Smith had initially dictated heat three.

Maximum man Magnus Karlsson eyeballed Doolan from the tapes before fending off the Aussie but Wortmann claimed the minor spoils.

Aarnio endeared himself to his new fans as Scunthorpe moved back in front with sidekick Wilkinson picking up drive down the back straight to overhaul Wortmann. Lambert savoured a heat six success against his one time employers with the out-of-sorts Doolan sluggish from the gate before eventually bypassing Howe.

Smith's rearguard action repelled impressive youngster Irvin as Karlsson coasted to the flag. Doolan left Wortmann to fend for himself after suffering an engine failure at the tapes in heat eight - Lambert cutting back from the dirt line to relegate the Dane to third.

Wilkinson enjoyed a swift rider replacement success in the very next race with wing man Aarnio blunting Doolan's tactical foray. Smith fared better in the black and white in heat ten to stem the home onslaught - Howe pouring it on around the outside to grab the spoils from Smith and Wortmann.

Karlsson foiled Hall to move Scunthorpe 14 clear but Lynn were poised to cut the deficit when Smith and the over worked Wortmann trapped in the next until Aarnio swooped around the top boards.

Doolan edged former Elite League racer Howe in a photo finish to heat 13 but Karlsson was again oblivious to the squabbles behind.

Eklof finally registered in the penultimate tour of a miserable night for the Swede but compatriot Karlsson duly completed his full house in the finale as Smith fired a rare blank.

Scorpions: Howe 6, r/r, Aarnio 8+1, Wilkinson 15+1, Karlsson 15, Irving 4+1, Lambert 7+1.

Stars: Hall 5+1, r/r, Smith 14, Eklof 2, Doolan 9, Mallett 0, Wortmann 7+2.