RONNIE Russell praised his in-form Swindon side as the Blunsdon outfit ground out all three Elite League points in a thrilling clash against visiting Eastbourne.

A last-ditch move from Simon Stead helped the Robins take a 50-43 victory, with the Sheffield-born charger edging out Tomasz Jedrzejak on the line in heat 15, while skipper Leigh Adams also saw off the challenge of Matej Zagar.

And Russell could not hide his delight after his septet denied the Eagles an away point and kept their play-off drive very much on track.

“I said to the boys (before the last heat) that we must have a 4-2,” said the boss. “Two laps down it didn’t look like it was going to happen, but it did.

“I’m so elated now because I could see a point slipping away. We didn’t let the point slip away and the teams above us will be once again be looking for us.

“You can always carry one rider but tonight we had to carry more than one, and that was difficult, but we came through it.”

Eastbourne were without captain Cameron Woodward through injury and operated the rider replacement facility in his absence, while Rye House man Kyle Hughes was brought in at reserve for Simon Gustafsson.

Former Blunsdon favourite Matej Zagar spearheaded the Eagles’ attack, but the Slovenian was well-beaten by Leigh Adams in the opening heat.

Then Swindon profited from Lukas Dryml’s second-lap fall as Justin Sedgmen triumphed in the re-run.

Eastbourne opted to go with just one rider in heat three, and Zengota and Korneliussen cruised round for the one-two.

Opening up with three points was Simon Stead in heat four while Sedgmen fought hard without success against Joonas Kylmakorpi.

Zagar made superb use of the black and white helmet to reduce Swindon’s advantage to 19-14, but Adams won the next as the overall honours were shared.

Jedrzejak nailed his start in race seven and Stead could not pull it back, and the former took another race win when the next heat was awarded.

Swindon took their lead to three as Zengota and Korneliussen notched up a 4-2, and a searing move past Kling and Dryml from Adams saw him take the chequered flag in heat 10.

Jedrzejak continued to cause problems for the Robins next but Stead was able to keep him at arm’s length, before a 4-2 in heat 12 from Zengota and Sedgmen saw the Robins five points in front.

But Eastbourne refused to go away and Zagar was at his best in heat 13, with Stead nicking second from Kylmakorpi at the death.

Korneliussen was inches away from contact with Dryml as he got his man in race 14, to send the meeting down to the last heat.

And Swindon got the 4-2 they needed as Stead’s last corner manoeuvre stopped Jedrezejak, while Adams got the better of Zagar.