LAKESIDE gained a 48-45 victory over arch-rivals Eastbourne in a meeting that could not have been a better advertisement for pulsating speedway.

The Hammers trailed by 10 points at one stage and still trailed by a point with three heats remaining, but back-to-back heat advantages ensured the Elite League points.

Once again, it was reserve Joonas Kylmakorpi that made the significant contribution, racing to a paid 20 points from his six rides, that included a winning tactical ride.

And Leigh Lanham and Andreas Jonsson chipped in with double figure scores, but neither Adam Shields nor Ricky Kling posed a threat to a visiting outfit missing the injured Lee Richardson.

In front of the biggest crowd of the season at the Arena-Essex Raceway, Lakeside started badly by losing three of the opening heats by 2-4 margins. With the other heats shared that left top rider Jonsson still seeking his first win of the night following his two second places.

Heat seven provided a defining moment for the hosts when Jonas Davidsson was caught on the line by Eagles Cameron Woodward, resulting in an Eastbourne 5-1 to give them a 16-26 scoreline.

But that afforded Hammers boss Jon Cook the option of utilising a tactical ride in heat eight, and the nominated Kylmakorpi duly obliged when he combined with Lanham for an 8-1 to put the Hammers firmly back in contention and become the first Hammer to take the chequered flag in seven races.

With Hammers missing flu victim Lubos Tomicek, the hard-working Kylmakorpi was given his full quota of seven rides and responded in superb fashion.

By heat nine, he was taking his fourth ride of the match finishing in front of Shields in a shared heat as Eastbourne's Edward Kennett collected his fourth win of the night.

Lanham produced the shock of the night producing a stunning ride in heat 10 to combine with Jonsson for a 5-1 over Scott Nicholls and put the Hammers ahead for the first time in the meeting (32-31).

But the lead lasted just two heats as the Eagles edged in heat 12 front two heats when the effective Cameron Woodward defeated Shields.

However, the Hammers' response was immediate.

Jonsson, for once, gated and held off the challenge from Nicholls, while the telling contribution telling came at the back as Jonas Davidsson chased down and passed Kennett on the line for third.

Victory was assured in the penultimate race when Lanham and Kylamkorpi produced a 5-1 to complete a magnificent evening for the home side despite having only managed to provide five of the 15 race winners.

Scorers, Lakeside: Andreas Jonsson 10, Leigh Lanham 10+3, Adam Shields 3+1, rider replacement Lubos Tomicek, Jonas Davidsson 6, Ricky Kling 1+1, Joonas Kylmakorpi 18+2.

Eastbourne: Scott Nicholls 15, Lewis Bridger 3, rider replacement Lee Richardson, Cameron Woodward 9+1, Edward Kennett 13, Simon Gustafsson 3, Nick Simmons 2+1.