THE SGB Premiership top spot will be decided on cut-off night after Swindon Robins recorded a sensational 39-51 victory against King’s Lynn Stars at the Adrian Flux Arena on Monday.

Four heat advantages in the final five races in Norfolk tonight ensured Alun Rossiter’s Robins scooped all four Premiership points on offer, and subsequently ended the season on 50 points from 24 meetings.

Robins’ nearest rivals, Poole Pirates, are expected to bring forward their final Premiership fixture away at King’s Lynn to this Thursday (September 19) – a date that has been set as the top tier’s cut-off night for recognised results before the end-of-season play-offs.

Pirates’ win at home against Ipswich on Monday left them two points below Swindon in the Premiership table – meaning Neil Middleditch’s men require a win if they want to poach Robins’ current spot at the top of the table.

A draw, or defeat, for the Dorset side will result in Alun Rossiter having first choice of what team to face in the play-off semi-finals.

Reacting to his side’s latest win, Rossiter said: “We’ve done our bit, a few slip ups during the season have cost us more points.

“There is nothing worse than relying on another team to do a job, but what will be will be.

“King’s Lynn were on a bit of a downer on Monday night, but I’m confident they can do something – it will be tough for them whatever happens.

“King’s Lynn were hit by injuries, but that’s the way it goes.

“Some people will say we were lucky on Monday, but then I could say Peterborough were lucky to have Ryan Douglas at reserve last week – it’s swings and roundabouts.”

Robins boasted a full-strength side for last night’s away tie, while King’s Lynn were forced into two late changes because of injury – Michael Palm Toft was replaced by Ty Proctor while rider replacement was operated for Thomas Jorgensen.

Extensive preparation on the Adrian Flux Arena track dictated the hours prior to the meeting following Saturday’s hosting of the World Stockcar Finals.

An additional 200 tonnes of shales went down on the racing surface - that had to be removed in order for a speedway track fit for racing to be available for riders.

Ironically, it was a broken pit gate that delayed proceedings as the night’s first heat – won by Robert Lambert – started 20 minutes later than scheduled.

Lambert’s teammate Ty Proctor rode a defensive race to hold off Robins’ hard-charging Ellis in fourth – earning the hosts a 4-2.

Three shared heats followed, but that run was broken in race five when Ellis spectacularly rounded Kerr and Riss to edge the Robins 14-16 ahead.

Stars continued to rely on former British Champion Lambert in the meeting’s early stages. He took the flag in heat six with Proctor again in third as the hosts levelled the meeting.

Cook won an unspectacular heat seven, before Ellis replicated his daredevil efforts in heat five when squeezing through the tightest of gaps to pass Proctor in race eight – ensuring the scores remaining level at 24-24. The meeting’s shared race theme continued into heats nine and 10, with Lambert pulling off an eye-catching cut back on Jensen in the latter while Musielak cut back on Proctor.

But the deadlock was broken in fortuitous circumstances in heat 11 when Ellis benefitted from Kerr’s lack of control with a lap remaining to record a Robins 4-2 as Doyle won from the tapes.

Another 4-2 for Swindon in heat 12 stretched the visitors’ lead to four points – the biggest margin to separate both teams at any stage of the meeting at that time.

But the meeting’s real drama was bottled for heat 13. After Doyle sensationally re-passed the seemingly unstoppable Lambert for third, Cook fell in front of Batchelor – bringing both riders to the deck.

The race was awarded to Batchelor, with Doyle picking up second. But, more importantly, that result meant Poole Pirates would have to race King’s Lynn on Thursday night and earn at least a draw to finish the season top of the Premiership table.

Pirates’ task to top the table got that bit harder a race later, as the Robins again benefitted from a slice of luck when Riss retired while Stars held a 5-1.

And an additional maximum in the evening’s final race ensured the race to secure the league’s top spot will go down to the wire.

Swindon return to action on Thursday night at the Abbey Stadium for the second leg of their Supporters’ Cup final tie against Belle Vue Aces – they currently trail 49-41.

King’s Lynn Stars - 39

1. Robert Lambert  3, 3, 3, 1, 3, 1 = 14
2. Ty Proctor (G) 1, 0, 1, 2, 0 = 4
3. Erik Riss 3, 1, 2, 2, R, R = 8
4. Thomas Jorgensen R/R (TP 0, LK 0, LK 1+, ER  = )
5. Craig Cook  3, 3, 2, FX = 8
6. Lewis Kerr  3, 0, 1+, 1+, 0, 0 = 5+2
7. Nicklas Porsing  0, 0, 0 = 0

Swindon Robins - 51

1. Jason Doyle  2, 3, 3, 2+, 3 = 13+1
2. Adam Ellis  0, 2+, 3, 1 = 6+1
3. Rasmus Jensen  XT, 1+, 2, 3 = 6+1
4. Tomasz Musielak  2, 2, 1+, 2 = 7+1
5. Troy Batchelor  1+, 2, 3, 3, 2+ = 11+2
6. Ellis Perks  2, 1+, 0, 0, 1 = 4+1
7. Claus Vissing  1+, 2, 0, 1+ = 4+2