A top-of-the-table speedway thriller at West Row saw Mildenhall Fen Tigers go down 46-44 in a two-point defeat against bogey side Leicester Lion Cubs.

Defeat for the Tigers means they have surrendered their lead in National Development League (NDL) to the reigning champions, who overcame a 40-38 deficit to snatch victory from the hosts.

Having lost six times to the East Midlanders in 2022, the Tigers were determined to end that run but agonisingly came up short, with their season-long undefeated home record also broken. 

Ely Standard: Ben Trigger (R) gated superbly and rode with maturity to score 10 points for the Tigers.Ben Trigger (R) gated superbly and rode with maturity to score 10 points for the Tigers. (Image: Derek Leader)

Team manager Gardner reflected on an afternoon and said: "It was a frustrating afternoon for sure – throwing away too many points against a predictably very solid Leicester side. 

"Not looking for excuses, but after a month without a match on our home track or as a team at all, too many of our riders were race rusty, and it showed. 

"It's not over of course, but we do need away wins at Kent and Edinburgh to stay in the play-offs race."

Ely Standard: Spectators were treated to a nervy and thrilling affair at the Mildenhall Stadium on Sunday, August 6.Spectators were treated to a nervy and thrilling affair at the Mildenhall Stadium on Sunday, August 6. (Image: Derek Leader)

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Falls aplenty dominated the action in the early proceedings: Vinnie Foord for the visitors and then an uncharacteristic tumble by home skipper Lee Complin in a heat four which saw the Lion Cubs get back to parity.

Ely Standard: Defeat for the Tigers demotes them back into second position. Defeat for the Tigers demotes them back into second position. (Image: Derek Leader)

The match continued to be nip and tuck affair throughout, with Ben Trigger, the standout rider for the Tigers, alongside Alfie Bowtell.

Despite a narrow lead of 40-38 heading into heat 14, a maximum by the visitors meant they took the lead heading into a last heat decider, with the visitors' skipper Dan Thompson squeezing through a gap that didn't seem to be there to go from third to first and clinch the narrowest of victories for his team.

At the moment, dates are still to be decided for three of the Tigers' remaining regular NDL fixtures ahead of the only confirmed match for Mildenhall (now down to second in the table) at Kent on Sunday, August 20.