TEAM boss Neil Middleditch was “very disappointed” after Great Britain finished last in a keenly-contested Speedway World Cup race-off last night.

Fine form from Wolverhampton’s Tai Woffinden, who was the showdown’s second top-scorer with 14 behind American veteran Greg Hancock, was not enough as Pirates favourite Darcy Ward inspired Australia to qualification.

The Aussie ace, who lodges with Middleditch in Dorset, won four of his five heats, racking up 13 of Australia’s winning total of 36.

Great Britain made a fist of it and were within four points of the leaders with four heats to go, but their failure to win any of those final races proved costly.

Ex-Pirate Jason Doyle and Ward both took chequered flags to ensure the Aussies’ safe passage, five points ahead of USA with Latvia in third, one point ahead of Middleditch’s men.

Britain’s boss felt his boys had missed a golden opportunity to qualify for the final for the first time since 2010 before bemoaning a dearth of quality to support his big guns.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “We were never out of contention and there was nothing between the teams. If there had been one slip up from anyone we could have been leading.

“Tai (Woffinden) and Bomber (Chris Harris) did well but there was no back up.

"We made team changes and we thought they (Lewis Bridger and Ben Barker) were the boys for the job but it wasn’t to be.

“We’re badly lacking in back up for our top boys and I am gutted because I think this was one of the best chances we’ve had to get to the final.”