Nicki Pedersen inspired a six-man Eastbourne to a last-heat decider at Wolverhampton last night.

The brilliant Dane, who went through the card twice at Monmore last season, could not quite repeat the feat this time round as Eagles lost 47-43.

His 15 points left the Eagles agonisingly short in their bid to end Wolves' 100 per cent home record.

In the crucial decider Pedersen shot from the gate but was passed on the inside run by home skipper Peter Karlsson.

And when Billy Hamill fired underneath the Eagle, clipping his front wheel, Eastbourne's cause was lost.

It was a forceful manoeuvre by the American but all four riders - Dean Barker had trailed in last - smiled and shook hands at the conclusion of the race.

The Eagles, who invariably go well at Monmore Green, were without the services of David Norris after his heavy fall at the Championship of Great Britain.

Norris had a double-figure return in the A fixture but his rider-replacement outings yielded just three points - and that was surely the difference.

Pedersen, the man they love to hate at Wolves, got a surprisingly warm welcome when the rider introductions were made.

If that was an attempt by home fans to mess with his mind it proved ineffective as he reeled off three wins for starters.

There was good support down the order from all of the Eagles, and yet again there was just a whisker between these evenly-matched outfits.

Eastbourne Eagles' eyes will now be on a swift return for Norris.