THE Bespoke Guardians Swindon Wildcats suffered another dent in their hopes of claiming the National Ice Hockey League title after falling 3-1 to fierce rivals Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday.

Aaron Nell's men sit second in the table on 43 points from 33 games while MK lay waiting three points behind with a game in hand.

Telford Tigers are now overwhelming favourites to lift the league title given they are four points clear of Swindon with a game in hand.

The Wildcats' weekend began on a positive note following a 5-3 victory over Basingstoke Bison at the Link Centre on Friday night.

Nell scored twice while further goals were added by Sam Godfrey, Balint Pakozdi, and Emil Svec.

However, needing another win against rivals MK on Saturday night to maintain pressure on the Tigers, the Wildcats saw a one-goal lead at the end of 40 minutes - courtesy of Tomasz Malasinski - overturned in the third period as MK emerged victorious from a tight, low-scoring affair.