Swindon 51 Wolves 39

They gave an inspired performance for the first two acts, only to mislay the script before the curtain fell.

And while the stars were pretty much word-perfect, there were fluffed lines among the rest of the cast as the visitors missed out on the Elite League's top spot while hoping to return in the play-off final.

Wolves were just two points adrift after 11 heats of this winner-takes-all showdown – and were first to the flag in seven of them – only to fade in the run-in.

With defeat inevitable before the final race, number one Fredrik Lindgren was not required to put in a heat 15 appearance. Consequently his individual battle with home skipper Leigh Adams remained locked at one apiece.

Lindgren was phenomenally quick, he blitzed heat one in what would have been a track record had Adams not lowered the mark just days ago.

He showed all his trackcraft in heat five, harrying Simon Stead with repeated drives on the inside line before plunging out wide on the third lap, third bend and skating round the Robin.

Even in heat 13, when Adams and Matej Zagar got the drop from the gate, he gunned inside the Slovenian on the back straight to split the home pair.

Swindon fans will doubtless have it that Lindgren was in effect waved through to avoid a 10-point home lead and the spectre of Tai Woffinden taking a double-point tactical ride.

That theory ignores the fact that Wolves would also have needed Lee Complin to defeat Travis McGowan and Morten Risager and then land a last-heat 5-1 against the Robins' top two into the bargain.

But you could understand Swindon supporters' concerns about Woffinden. An already fine season has taken on a new dimension in the last few weeks.

Dominant on the smaller confines of Monmore Green, the 19-year-old was equally at home at the big Blunsdon arena and dropped only a point to Adams before running a last and blowing an engine in heat 15. He will be a big player in the end of season shoot-out.

Woffinden did have a stroke of fortune in his second outing, Zagar showing great straight line speed to go under the Wolves pairing only to lock up on the final lap and lose the lead.

Skipper Peter Karlsson, trying a different engine, was a notch below his dominant best. One win from five starts tells its own story.

Nicolai Klindt was good value for his points, finishing third twice, while Lindgren was winning heats and confounding home expectations by running away with heat eight.

But Adam Skornicki's flat run continues and neither Chris Kerr nor Lee Complin could take a point off the opposition.

Complin, yet another to have an engine expire, was well in the mix in the penultimate race before the Swindon pair got away. Kerr deserved more for one particularly brave outside burst, which took him into a rapidly narrowing cul-de-sac between opposition rider and fence.

But the Robins had Adams in prime nick, dropping just the one point to Lindgren, while Zagar and Risager both posted 11 points and were backed solidly down the order.

While the margin of victory may have flattered them, they were deserving winners on the night.

So it's Swindon who top the league and choose their semi-final opponents with eight points' start while Wolves tackle the remaining side with the benefit of four points in the locker.

Most neutrals would want to see them return to the stage in the final. Back by popular demand.