Liam Killeen and Oli Beckingsale won gold and silver for England at the Commonwealth Games mountain-biking but had to battle back after losing over a minute and a half to Australian champion Chris Jongewaard.

Killeen, a bronze-medallist in Manchester four years ago, and Beckingsale were left trailing for all but two of the eight laps of a technically testing course around Lysterfield Park, south-east of Melbourne.

But, with Prince Edward watching, they overhauled the Australian - who finished outside the medals - and held off Canadian Seamus McGrath.

It means the race for cycling medals is almost neck and neck between British and Australian riders.

With two events to go - the men's and women's road race - Australia have 20 while the home nations have acquired 19 between them.

The 23-year-old Killeen had never doubted he would catch Jongewaard, who tired rapidly in the final two laps.

"I was watching the clock each time through the start gate and I could see we were starting to get quicker," said Worcestershire rider.

"Then we saw the gap was down to 40 seconds with two laps to go and then he went in a flash.

"But all credit to the guy he rode a hell of a race."

Bristolian Beckingsale might have pushed Killeen for the gold had he not had problems with his chain midway through the race.

"I've come here to get a medal so I'm pleased," he said.

"I was just so smooth all day and Liam was riding well too but I'm disappointed I had to pull back 20 seconds.

"It's a what-might-have-been situation but to get a one-two after all the success of the other cyclists is great, sometimes we struggle to match them but today I think we were world class."

For Killeen it made up for his disappointment in Athens when he battled back to fifth after falling on the first turn.

"That was my goal since I was a junior - to do my best performance in Athens," he said.

"In 2005, I had to step back a little bit and that was good for me."