King's Lynn slid to a surprise 50-39 defeat at struggling Lakeside on Friday night.

The Stars lost ground on joint Elite League leaders leaders Poole and Coventry, who were beating Leicester while Lynn were going down in Essex, and now trail the top two by nine points.

It was a disappointing evening for Rob Lyon's side, who were using the rider replacement facility as cover for the injured Rory Schlein for the final time before new signing Vaclav Milik arrives from the Czech Republic next week.

Lynn began the match brightly as Niels-Kristian Iversen went from third to first to win heat one followed by partner Robert Lambert.

Lewis Kerr swept around both Hammers to lead all the way in heat two but the home side hit back in heat three when Kenneth Bjerre trapped but held the lead for less than a lap as Edward Kennett and Kim Nilsson surged through for an easy 5-1. Lakeside then took the lead for the first time when early leader Nicklas Porsing was unable to keep Mikkel Bech at bay.

It was all square again at 15-15 after Lambert jetted from the start for a convincing win and a ruthless first turn from Iversen teed up a Lynn 5-1 in heat six but Bjerre was unable to hold second.

Bjerre gated first in heat seven but again could not hold his position, being passed by Jonsson as Lakeside regained the lead at 22-20.

Kerr's second bend tumble and exclusion led to a 10-minute delay for fence repairs but in the re-run a brilliant ride from Lambert to pass Bech saved a 1-5 loss for Stars.

The Stars were level again at 33-33 after heat 11 but the hosts started to move ahead after that.

There was controversy in the penultimate heat after Stars had looked poised for a 4-2 to square the match.

Third-placed Porsing fell coming off the second bend on the last lap and after Lambert had taken the chequered flag, the Stars' No. 2 was excluded after the race by referee Willie Dishington for not having a dirt deflector.

The awarded 5-0 clinched the match for the Hammers at 45-38 and Nilsson and Jonsson rubbed salt in Lynn's wounds with a last heat 5-1 over Iversen and Lambert.

leaders Poole and Coventry, who were beating Leicester while Lynn were going down in Essex, and now trail the top two by nine points.

It was a disappointing evening for Rob Lyon's side, who were using the rider replacement facility as cover for the injured Rory Schlein for the final time before new signing Vaclav Milik arrives from the Czech Republic next week.

Lynn began the match brightly as Niels-Kristian Iversen went from third to first to win heat one followed by partner Robert Lambert.

Lewis Kerr swept around both Hammers to lead all the way in heat two but the home side hit back in heat three when Kenneth Bjerre trapped but held the lead for less than a lap as Edward Kennett and Kim Nilsson surged through for an easy 5-1. Lakeside then took the lead for the first time when early leader Nicklas Porsing was unable to keep Mikkel Bech at bay.

It was all square again at 15-15 after Lambert jetted from the start for a convincing win and a ruthless first turn from Iversen teed up a Lynn 5-1 in heat six but Bjerre was unable to hold second.

Bjerre gated first in heat seven but again could not hold his position, being passed by Jonsson as Lakeside regained the lead at 22-20.

Kerr's second bend tumble and exclusion led to a 10-minute delay for fence repairs but in the re-run a brilliant ride from Lambert to pass Bech saved a 1-5 loss for Stars.

The Stars were level again at 33-33 after heat 11 but the hosts started to move ahead after that.

There was controversy in the penultimate heat after Stars had looked poised for a 4-2 to square the match.

Third-placed Porsing fell coming off the second bend on the last lap and after Lambert had taken the chequered flag, the Stars' No. 2 was excluded after the race by referee Willie Dishington for not having a dirt deflector.

The awarded 5-0 clinched the match for the Hammers at 45-38 and Nilsson and Jonsson rubbed salt in Lynn's wounds with a last heat 5-1 over Iversen and Lambert.

Lakeside: Andreas Jonsson 11+1 (from five rides), Kyle Newman (Guest) 4 (4), Eddie Kennett 9+1 (4), Mikkel Bech 8+1 (4), Kim Nilsson 8+2 (5), Adam Ellis 3+1 (4), Ashley Birks 7+1 (4)

Lynn: Niels-Kristian Iversen 12 (5), Robert Lambert 7+1 (5), Nicklas Porsing 5 (5), Kenneth Bjerre 6 (5), Lewis Kerr 9 (6), Ashley Morris 0 (3)