THE Bespoke Guardians Swindon Wildcats received a potentially significant blow to their National Ice Hockey League title hopes at the weekend following consecutive defeats to Telford Tigers.

Aaron Nell's men blew a two-goal lead at the Link Centre on Saturday night to go down 4-2 before a tough night for netminder Renny Marr on Sunday led to an 8-5 reverse in Shropshire.

Having sat at the top of the table by two points going into the weekend's action, Swindon now sit two points behind Telford and have played two games more.

Edgars Bebris opened the scoring on Saturday before youngster Oli Endicott struck his first goal for the Wildcats prior to the end of the first period.

Only penalties featured during a competitive middle period at the Link Centre as Swindon looked to hold on to a precious three points.

However, a disastrous third period flipped the result on its head. Telford's Danny Rose pulled a goal back in the 50th minute before Jason Silverthorn equalised 43 seconds later.

In a 2-minute-and-10-second period which ultimately cost the Wildcats dear, Bayley Harewood nudged the visitors in front.

As the hosts pulled their netminder late on, Telford's Thomas McKinnon slid the puck into an empty net to wrap up victory inside the final minute.

On Sunday, Harewood blasted home after just 23 seconds before Silverthorn doubled the Tigers' lead during a powerplay in the seventh minute.

Nell struck twice either side of the first buzzer to level the game at two, only to see Finley Howells and Silverthorn re-establish Telford's two-goal lead.

Scott McKenzie and Emil Svec traded blows to make it 5-3 in the third while Reed Sayers gave the Cats hope in the 48th minute.

Unfortunately for Swindon, that was as good as it got. McKenzie completed his hat-trick for a 7-4 lead, although Chris Jones nabbed a consolation.

Vladimir Luka scored the eighth for Telford as Swindon travelled back down south disappointed with their weekend and potentially out of the title race with just six games left.