The CFS Filtration Robins conceded a 5-1 in the final race as they went down 51-39 in Norfolk in the knockout cup semi-final, second leg, losing 93-87 on aggregate.

It had been a brave effort from a weak looking side who were dealt a triple blow in the build-up to the fixture with Adam Ellis and Zach Wajtknecht both ruled out through injury and reserve Jack Smith suffering from tonsillitis, .

Indeed Ellis had only recently won six races at Lynn and with him surely this tie would have been even closer and the Robins could well have taken the aggregate victory.

Yet despite their line-up woes, they took the fixture right to the last heat and a 5-1 would have given the visitors the spoils.

In fairness the Stars had their own bad luck as Niels-Kristian Iversen took an early fall and had to sit out the remainder of the meeting.

King’s Lynn enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges before David Bellego and Troy Batchelor pulled the overall scores level with a 5-1 in the fifth race. It was that same pairing who gave the Robins hope with another maximum in heat 11 after Robert Lambert and Erik Riss secured two 5-1s for the hosts in between.

Three shared heats took it down to a last heat decider - before the tension and drama was ramped up another notch.

Batchelor and home skipper Lambert tangled in the opening turns, causing the Stars man to come down - much to the displeasure of the King’s Lynn supporters.

But the Robins duo were unable to make the start in the re-run and saw any hopes of silverware dashed in the cruelest of fashions.

Team boss Alun Rossiter said: “I’m bitterly disappointed to miss out the way we did but we certainly can’t fault the effort of the boys with everything considered.

"I know they had (Niels-Kristian) Iversen withdraw after his second ride, but for me we really missed Adam and Zach in particular with how they’ve been riding of late. But to come to an in-form King’s Lynn side and push them so close is a great effort and the boys should hold their heads up high.”

The Robins will now finish their season at The Abbey Stadium on Thursday, September 27 (7.30pm) when they host Belle Vue in their outstanding league fixture which has to be completed.

SCORERS

KING’S LYNN 51: Robert Lambert 14+1, Erik Riss 12+3, Michael Palm Toft 12+1, Simon Lambert 7+1, Thomas Jorgensen 4+2, Niels-Kristian Iversen 2+1, Ty Proctor R/R.

SWINDON 39: Tobiasz Musielak 13, Troy Batchelor 9+2, David Bellego 9, Nick Morris 6+1, Theo Pijper 2+1, Scott Campos 0, Adam Ellis R/R.

King’s Lynn win 93-87 on aggregate.