KING’S Lynn stand-in skipper Kevin Doolan inspired his men to a crushing Premier League KO Cup first round, first leg win last night at the Norfolk Arena.

King’s Lynn 57, Glasgow 33

Lynn’s stand-in skipper Kevin Doolan inspired his men to a crushing Premier League KO Cup first round, first leg win Wednesday night at the Norfolk Arena.

Doolan powered to a six ride paid maximum as the holders began their defence in emphatic fashion against the outgunned Tigers. Lynn made light of the double injury absence of Tomas Topinka and Joe Haines to build a 24 point lead ahead of the second leg north of the border on May 23.

Glasgow’s ex-Lynn racer Travis McGowan turned back the clock in a battle of the Elite League past and present to down Ty Proctor in the opener.

Linus Eklof pinched the solitary point from Lee Dicken before the hosts’ blossoming reserve duo fired again in the next.

Darren Mallett trapped from turn one but Casper Wortmann arrowed across from turn three to eclipse the Tigers’ duo. Josh Grajczonek was untroubled in heat three with the visitors more than competitive in the early sparring.

Doolan was at his imperious best in heat four after shading a no-holds-barred turn one tussle with James Grieves.

Eklof and Kozza Smith double teamed McGowan but the former Knight cashed in on Smith’s wide line exiting turn four.

Proctor anchored a timely home maximum to move Lynn eight clear and signal the home onslaught. Wortmann was full value for his support role after bravely flying through a sliver of space tight to the boards sportingly left by Grieves.

The Norfolk Arena faithful were served up a two-for-offer in the next when Doolan needed all his Saddlebow skills to repel Grajczonek.

Tigers’ captain Dicken foiled Mallett’s battling effort in the rear as the two Aussies’ duelled for supremacy at the head of affairs.

Wortmann’s wow of a night continued with Smith powering through a white dust cloud kicked up from the Dane’s tyre tracks tight to the inner concrete.

Smith looked a man possessed in the next - weaving from out to in to mesmerise experienced campaigner Grieves.

Rider replacement Doolan and Proctor forged a formidable heat ten home pairing with the inevitable maximum to follow in a sub 60 second tour.

McGowan deferred to Doolan again but Grajczonek bullied Smith and Wortmann to stem the tide in heat 12 - Wortmann bailing out after Smith erred entering turn two.

Proctor hit the deck on the resumption before sitting out the remaining action with a minor arm injury.

Eklof and Grajczonek went toe-to-toe in the penultimate contest but Eklof failed to make the most of a rare outing in the nominated finale.

Doolan trapped to complete his best haul of the campaign with McGowan’s hard ball tactics forcing Eklof to shut the throttle off around the bottom boards in behind.

Stars: Proctor 8, r/r, Smith 10+1, Eklof 9+2, Doolan 17+1, Mallett 4+1, Wortmann 9+1.

Tigers: McGowan 11, Dicken 2+1, Grajczonek 12+1, Grieves 6+1, Davey 0, Courtney 2.