NEIL Middleditch and Chris Holder hit back at Poole’s critics after Pirates had lost their unbeaten record amid accusations of cheating.

King’s Lynn ended Pirates’ 18-match sequence without defeat in 2012 on a stormy and controversial night at the Norfolk Arena on Friday.

But it was the Stars’ off-track comments about Pirates that sparked stern ripostes from Middleditch and Holder following the fiery showdown.

King’s Lynn co-promoter Jonathan Chapman continued the pre-meeting war of words over Poole’s use of guest Artur Mroczka by slamming the Pirates promotion in a heated interval interview.

Fellow Stars chief Buster Chapman later roared “cheats never prosper” over the stadium’s public address system after his team had completed a famous 49-41 Elite League win.

And the younger Chapman later took to social network Twitter to declare: “Still buzzing from last night, that’s what the @officialKLstars are all about... CHEATS NEVER PROSPER!”

Pirates chief Matt Ford yesterday politely declined to comment when asked for his response to the criticism.

But posting from his @middlo57 Twitter account after the meeting, team manager Middleditch said: “Some people’s attitude sucks. Win by all means but don’t slag us off. #wewillbeback.”

Pirates captain Holder, responding to a tweet from a speedway fan who had referred to the “cheats never prosper” claim, also defended the reigning champions. He said: “That’s the only thing they could come up with cos we killin it! AGAIN! #sameoldstory.”

The latest King’s Lynn-Poole exchange came after the clubs had traded blows – via the press – over the issue in the lead up to Friday’s showdown.

The row centred on Pirates being granted a guest facility for Adrian Miedzinski. Lynn had protested against the decision after Poole had earlier confirmed Miedzinski would no longer be riding for the Dorset club.

The SCB ruled in Pirates’ favour and granted permission to use Mroczka as Miedzinski was unavailable due to his commitments in GP qualifying and he will ride again for Poole on Wednesday.

Stars had heavily criticised Pirates’ conduct in the matter while Ford responded by defending his Wimborne Road regime.

Jonathan Chapman waded into the argument in an interview broadcast over the Norfolk Arena public address system on Friday.

He said: “Poole are out for themselves. Before we came into the Elite League, I thought it was rah-rah about how much Matt Ford tries to get away with things but now I am part of it, I can see it.

“I wish all the (Poole) riders well. The way their club is run isn’t down to the riders.

“I hope it is little clubs like us that show they can’t always get away with it.”

Chapman also admitted it was legal for Poole to use Mroczka but claimed it was “not right”.

Speaking on Thursday, Ford said: “We don’t tell other clubs, who are perhaps running less successfully, how to run their businesses and perhaps people should also allow us to run ours the way we deem fit.”