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KING'S LYNN closed in on the Elite League's top four with a confidence boosting 54-38 home win over Leicester.A third win in four meetings means the Stars are now just three points behind fourth-placed Lakeside - and have three fixtures in hand over the Hammers.Niels-Kristian Iversen led the way for the home side with 14 points whilst Troy Batchelor collected 10. Polish youngster Szymon Wozniak top-scored for the Lions on 8+1.Stars boss Rob Lyon said: “Confidence really is starting to build within the side now and it was another really pleasing performance from the boys tonight.“We finished the meeting really strongly and there were plenty of positives to take out of it.“Picking up a win like we did tonight on the back of Monday's victory at Coventry means we're in a bit of form now and we we're looking for another positive result at Leicester this weekend.”

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EDINBURGH boss John Campbell has slammed suggestions his side were fortunate to win at Redcar on Thursday.The reigning Premier League champions hit back from a disastrous start which saw them go 2-10 down to turn the meeting around and win 48-45, moving to within a point of the top six in the process.Sam Masters was unbeaten after Heat 1 as he scored 13 whilst Ryan Fisher picked up 14 including a winning tactical ride. Tobias Busch top-scored for the Bears on 10+2.Campbell said: “I’ve just read on Twitter it was a fortunate win but it certainly wasn’t that. The suggestion is that we won because they had two guys fall off, but those guys were over-riding, that was the problem for them.“After an absolutely dreadful start when we were getting nowhere, the whole team became very determined to do something. The track was super-slick and dusty from Heat 1. There were one or two passes but it was almost suicidal moves which were making them possible.”Elsewhere, Sheffield moved to the top of the table with their eighth successive home win as they overcame Plymouth 52-41 at Owlerton.Skipper Simon Stead led the Tigers superbly with a 16+1 point haul – suffering his only defeat in a tight heat 13 battle with Jack Holder, whilst Kyle Howarth and Josh Bates were also in double figures. Holder scored 14+1 for the Devils.Stead said: “It was a really good performance, and it was nice to see us score so many points from rider replacement because that can sometimes be a bit dodgy.“All the boys have ridden well in conditions which were quite tricky early on against a Plymouth team who have some guys who are really quick here.“They kept us honest for a while and we had to keep our heads down, but I don’t think the result was ever in doubt so it was a good night.”Berwick missed the chance to move above former leaders Glasgow when they were hammered 58-34 at Ipswich, who have climbed to ninth in the table.Home skipper Danny King reeled off a 12-point maximum with Nico Covatti (12), Morten Risager (10+3) and Ben Barker (10+1) also in double figures, whilst recent signing Joe Jacobs carded paid-11 at reserve. Thomas Jorgensen scored 13+1 for the Bandits.Ipswich boss Ritchie Hawkins said: “Joe looked an accomplished rider and a very good Premier League reserve tonight, and I thought Connor Mountain came in and did brilliantly. We got a lot of points from reserve and that's obviously a massive bonus when all of your top four have got double figures.“I don't think we can get carried away because we've had good meetings this season and not built on them but we need to get in the winning habit now and it would be nice to see the same next week!”Bandits manager Scott Courtney said: “That was a match we will instantly put behind us and look forward to tomorrow at Peterborough as Ipswich were on fire tonight and deserved their win, but we know we're better and can do better as will be proven in our next match.”The Isle of Wight’s Pairs event was won by the combination of Rob Shuttleworth and Kelsey Dugard, with James Cockle and Tyler Govier the runners-up.

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ELITE League leaders Wolverhampton visit Lakeside on Friday on a busy night of top-flight action.The Hammers are looking to get their play-off bid back on track after successive defeats against Poole, whilst Wolves want to extend their current two-point advantage over Swindon who are inactive tonight.Edward Kennett is expected to return from an ear infection to line-up at No.2 for the hosts, whilst No.1 Andreas Jonsson emerged unscathed from a high-speed crash at Poole on Wednesday.The Hammers’ Richard Lawson and Wolves man Sam Masters are both riding for their Premier League clubs, meaning both sides operate rider replacement to cover their absences. Wolves have also drafted in Rory Schlein as a guest for injured former Hammers rider Joonas Kylmakorpi in the No.5 spot.Lakeside coach Kelvin Tatum said: “Friday’s meeting is absolutely huge – mainly due to our performance last time we were at the Raceway. “Wolverhampton have been a very solid side right from the start of the season and they don't sit top of the Elite League table for nothing.“We put in a very strong showing against them earlier in the season and it's crucial that we do the same again.”Wolves promoter Chris Van Straaten said: “Lakeside is always a tough place to go, and it’s the kind of place where you’d be driving home very pleased with a point,” said Van Straaten.“They have a side who are usually very strong at home, and I think we’ll find a backlash after they lost their last home meeting against Poole.“It will be a very tough meeting, but we’ll be aiming to come away with something and put in a good performance.”Perennial rivals Coventry and Poole clash at Brandon with the Bees desperate to recover from their narrow home defeat against King’s Lynn on Monday.The Pirates are currently outside the play-off places but have won their last two away matches at Swindon and Lakeside.Kacper Woryna misses out for the home side due to Polish commitments, with David Bellego coming in to guest, whilst Kyle Newman is not fit to return for the Pirates who have named Ellis Perks as their guest.Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: “The rivalry between these two clubs is always intense, and Friday is going to be no different. I expect both teams to really be going at it, and it’s very much the meeting that everybody wants to come and watch.“Down the years we’ve been the top two clubs and it would be fantastic to take the bragging rights again. The boys certainly aren’t going to need any spurring on, this is one we absolutely want to win.”Poole promoter Matt Ford said: “I think Coventry have shown on more than one occasion this season that they will always be a threat. Against us they rallied, had a bit of fortune and stole the win. They weren't far away from doing that on Monday either.“I know the lads are keen to keep the push for the play-offs going and we won there at the beginning of the season in the Shield so there is no reason why we can't give them a serious run for their money.”Belle Vue can move up into second place in the table if they beat bottom side Leicester at the National Speedway Stadium.The Aces name a full-strength line-up, whilst the Lions are missing riders due to Premier League commitments and bring in Michael Palm Toft and Hugh Skidmore with Aaron Summers and Ludvig Lindgren absent, and rider replacement is in operation for Paul Starke.Belle Vue star Max Fricke said: “For us it’s a case of kicking on as we have been doing. Things are pretty tight at the top and we want to make sure we’re in a good position for when the campaign resumes after the World Cup.“There have been a handful of times where we’ve come away from meetings empty handed but other than that we have been quite dominant and that’s the kind of form we need to maintain.”Leicester boss Norrie Allan said: “One of the down-sides to having riders in the team who are doubling-up between the Elite and Premier League means that there are occasions when one club has priority over another for their services. “We knew at the start of the season that Paul would miss this fixture which wasn’t so bad, but of course Aaron and Ludvig joined us later on and there was no avoiding the situation we find ourselves in at Belle Vue.”

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PETERBOROUGH supremo Ged Rathbone has called for a collective effort from bosses, riders and fans to prevent the club's season from faltering.The Panthers face a must-win Premier League showdown against fellow title hopefuls Berwick, three days on from a shock 44-46 home defeat to Scunthorpe.The home side have called in Sheffield star Simon Stead to guest at number one with Craig Cook racing in the Elite League. Tom Stokes will again ride at number seven in place of injured Zdenek Holub.Rathbone said: “Tuesday was a very bad night - probably the worst of my time at Peterborough. The performance was disappointing, the result was obviously disappointing and the size of the crowd was also disappointing."We're currently in a situation where we have been dealt a couple of big injury blows and we need everyone to pull together.“Not only is it going to be a very tough meeting, it is one we have to win to keep ourselves where we need to be in the table. I'm hoping for a good performance, a good result and a good turnout to put us back on track.”Somerset are currently fifth in the table but have multiple matches in hand on the teams above them, and will look to maintain their unbeaten record when they face Newcastle at the Oaktree Arena.Rebels boss Garry May said: “Like us, Newcastle have quite a few matches in hand over most of the other clubs, and have already picked up some valuable points on their travels, so we will not be taking their visit lightly.“In saying that, however, the Somerset boys have all been riding exceptionally well in recent weeks, as our record-breaking away win at Plymouth and our aggregate KO Cup Quarter-Final win over Peterborough has proved, so it looks as if the fans will be in for another night of top quality Oaktree Arena action.”Scottish rivals Edinburgh and Glasgow clash at Armadale in the first leg of their KO Cup quarter-final.Former Monarchs rider Rob Branford guest for the unavailable Max Clegg, whilst the Tigers bring in Lasse Bjerre and Matt Williamson for Richie Worrall and the injured Nike Lunna.Edinburgh star Ryan Fisher said: “I think we can win it. We need everyone scoring as they are capable. “We never seem to have everyone clicking but if three or four of us are really on it, that maybe allows a little bit of slack at the bottom end. I’m very hopeful.”Glasgow’s Coty Garcia said: “Edinburgh is a tough track but the last time we were there, it was really close, so we will go for it. “It's always big pressure riding against Edinburgh. But we need to prove ourselves and start to win our away meetings, because that has been our problem so far. We are making mistakes so we must start to do better in the away meetings.”

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FRIDAY JULY 15:ELITE LEAGUE: Belle Vue v Leicester 7.30, Coventry v Poole 7.30, Lakeside v Wolverhampton 8pmPREMIER LEAGUE: Peterborough v Berwick 7.30, Somerset v Newcastle 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Edinburgh v Glasgow 7.30

SATURDAY JULY 16:ELITE LEAGUE: Leicester v King’s Lynn 7.30PREMIER LEAGUE: Workington v Rye House 7pmTRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Stoke v Cradley 7pmSTARS OF TOMORROW + BRITISH 125cc FINAL: Berwick 6.45

SUNDAY JULY 17:PREMIER LEAGUE: Glasgow v Rye House 3pm, Scunthorpe v Edinburgh 6.30PREMIER LEAGUE KO CUP Q/F 1st leg: Newcastle v Sheffield 6.30TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Buxton v Belle Vue 3pm, Mildenhall v Isle of Wight 3.30