King's Lynn 55 Birmingham 35 (Lynn won 102-78 on aggregate)KING's Lynn survived an early scare to clinch a Premier League play-off final spot last night at the Norfolk Arena.

King's Lynn 55 Birmingham 35

(Lynn won 102-78 on aggregate)

KING's Lynn survived an early scare to clinch a Premier League play-off final spot last night at the Norfolk Arena.

Birmingham shaded three of the first four heats to wipe out a first leg deficit but Rob Lyon's double winners roared back to set up a clash against old foes Edinburgh.

Lynn head north of the border tomorrow for the first leg before hosting the Monarchs next Tuesday with Elite League bottom side Belle Vue awaiting the winners.

Newly-crowned World U21 champion Darcy Ward (paid four) typified Lynn's early semi-final, second leg struggles on his worst outing of the season in the Stars' race jacket.

Ward failed to finish the opener after bailing out on the top bend as Stars' old boy Rusty Harrison smoothly kept impressive Lynn guest Chris Kerr at bay.

Jan Graversen and Linus Eklof swept around turn two to dictate the reserves but Birmingham replied in kind to inflict a rare reverse on the champions' second string.

Ludvig Lindgren needed no further invitation after Chris Schramm veered wide exiting turn three to chase home talented youngster Richard Sweetman.

Kerr then overcooked turn two to gift Jason Lyons the flag that surprisingly dragged Birmingham level on the aggregates.

Schramm and Emiliano Sanchez were soon back on the gas - Sanchez throwing up a roadblock to subdue Harrison and visiting guest Corey Gathercole.

Lyons retired from the meeting after slamming into the top boards trying to pressurise Kerr. Schramm felt Sweetman's warm breath on his neck in heat seven but kept his nerve to triumph. Kerr trapped then settled for sentry duty behind Graversen before the Dane's error exiting the last bend forced Kerr to repel Harrison in a photo finish.

Schramm and Sanchez team rode to a pre-interval maximum to move Lynn ten points clear on the night.

Kerr clinched a 'keystone cops' heat ten - Ward again last to turn left from the tapes as Lindgen threatened to land a major tactical raid before a decisive 360 on the bottom bend.

Gathercole's tactical foray ended with a painful shunt in the next then Graversen emerged from a turn one traffic jam to cash in on a replacement ride for Ward.

Sweetman bagged Birmingham's first flag since heat four in the penultimate tour but Schramm and Kerr cruised to the finale.

Stars: Ward 3+1, Kerr 13+1, Sanchez 11+1, Schramm 14+1, Eklof 5+2, Graversen 9.

Brummies: Gathercole 2, Harrison 7, Lindgren 6+2, Sweetman 9+1, Lyons 3, Herne 6, Smart 2.

- Club officials have announced dates for Lynn's Premier League KO Cup final showdown against Edinburgh.

Rob Lyon's treble chasers travel to Scotland for the first leg on Friday, October 23 with a winner-takes-all seasonal finale set for Saddlebow on Wednesday, October 28.