KING’S Lynn were forced to settle for a consolation league point from their 48-42 defeat at Sheffield.
The Minors and Brady Stars shone brightly early on, leading 12-6 with two 5-1s in the first three races.
The hosts pulled back level by Heat Six though before recent recruit Nicolai Klindt and Richie Worrall edged the Norfolk outfit back ahead with a second race advantage of the evening.
Sheffield struck back-to-back maximums though to establish a six point lead and that left Alex Brady’s side with work to do with six races remaining.
They certainly came back fighting though when Klindt and Worrall again combined for a 4-2 before Thomas Jorgensen and skipper Josh Pickering teamed up for another 5-1 to draw back level with four to go.
An exclusion for debutant Frederik Jakobsen after lifting spectacularly whilst holding third in Heat 12 proved costly, as did a disqualification for Richard Lawson by SCB Referee Barbara Horley in Heat 13 for anticipating the start on two occasions, as Sheffield grabbed a 5-1 in the second re-run.
Six behind, that prompted Brady to bring in Jorgensen as a tactical substitute alongside Klindt and they sat on a 5-1 of their own into bend three of lap one.
But home captain Kyle Howarth pulled off a sensational ride to go from third to first and claim victory for the hosts.
Danish duo Klindt and Jorgensen rode hard in Heat 15 though to fend off British Grand Prix Wild Card Adam Ellis to secure a deserved league point at the death.
Team boss Alex Brady said: “It does feel like a missed opportunity.
“We made some silly decisions and didn’t stick it in the dirt often enough and getting fresh air was key tonight.
“I felt there were a couple of decisions that didn’t go our way, notably Heat 13 with Richard Lawson.
“He did exactly what had happened a couple of heats before with Adam Ellis and Kyle Howarth - who even had a laugh with me saying how he jumped the start in Heat Nine as well.
“Sometimes these things go your way, sometimes they don’t and it’s not the first time this referee has let us down and I’m sure it won’t be the last either.
“Nicolai was a class above tonight and Pickering and Jorgensen were excellent too while Richie was good value for his points but we were lacking a little bit down at reserve.”
King’s Lynn head to league leaders Ipswich on Thursday, now 13 points off a play-off place.
SHEFFIELD 48: Jack Holder 12, Kyle Howarth 10, Adam Ellis 8+1, Tobiasz Musielak 7+2, Connor Mountain 7+1, Ryan Sedgmen 4, Craig Cook r/r. KING’S LYNN 42: Nicolai Klindt 13, Thomas Jorgensen 10+3, Josh Pickering 7+2, Richie Worrall 6+1, Richard Lawson 3, Frederik Jakobsen 3, Jason Edwards 0.
