Lakeside Hammers 50,

King's Lynn Stars 43

King's Lynn Stars made Lakeside sweat last night but they went back to the Norfolk Arena without a point to show for their efforts in their Elite League play-off bid.

Niels Kristian Iversen led by example once again with 16 points and was backed up by ex-Hammer Richie Worrall who scored paid 11.

Peter Karlsson got the hosts off to a solid start by holding off Iversen but the home reserves of Kevin Doolan and Richard Lawson stole a march over their guest counterparts Leigh Lanham and Morten Risager for a home 5-1.

Worrall almost came up trumps in the third heat but was denied on the line by Piotr Swiderski in a fine chase from the Pole.

There was little to separate either side with five shared heats in succession, with home skipper Davey Watt going from last to first to take heat four as they held a 14-10 lead.

The Hammers were on for a 5-1 in heat five only for Swiderski to run into the back of compatriot Sebastian Ulamek as Iversen took drastic action to avoid running into Swiderski.

But the pivotal heat proved to be eight as Bridger and Lawson picked up a 5-1 after holding Risager.

It went from bad to worse for the Stars in the next as Ulamek and Swiderski strolled to a maximum as the Hammers moved into a commanding 33-21 lead.

Worrall's heat 10 win stemmed the tide before team manager Rob Lyon opted to use Iversen as a tactical in the next. The Dane did manage to take the win over Watt but received no support from Lasse Bjerre as the Stars 6-3 pulled the score back to 39-30 in the Hammers' favour.

However, the Hammers counter acted that in heat 12 as Ulamek and Lawson picked up another maximum.

Stars kept their hopes of a point alive when the ever-reliable Iversen took victory in heat 13 and Schlein picked up third to reduce the deficit to 11 at 46-35. The curse of Worrall struck again for the hosts and their worries were compounded by Swiderski's fall for another Stars heat advantage as they went into the last needing a maximum to pick up a point. But it was Watt who ensured all three points went to the Hammers with his second place behind Iversen.

Hammers: Karlsson 6+1 (4), Bridger 6+1 (4), Ulamek 9 (5), Swiderski 5+1 (4), Watt 12 (5), Doolan 5+2 (4), Lawson 7+2 (4)

Lynn: Iversen 16 (5), L. Bjerre 2+2 (4), Korneliussen 3+1 (4), Worrall 10+1 (5), Schlein 7 (5), Lanham 1 (3), Risager 4+1 (5).