Milton Keynes Lightning's English Premier League title hopes look to be over after a 5-3 defeat to Slough Jets left them trailing leaders Peterborough Phantoms by five points.

With Phantoms having won three games in four days both sides have six games to play and the Cambridgeshire would need to lose three including the clash with Lightning on the penultimate day of the season.

Against Slough on Sunday Lightning were, in truth, always struggling after going behind to a soft Scott Spearing goal after just 1min 55secs, goalie Barry Hollyhead failing to cover the gap at the right post as the Jets man put in a weak shot.

Lightning who were missing the suspended Andre Smulter drafted in reserve import Ales Parez to fill the gap but, at times, the Czech, looked less than match fit.

Lightning were almost made to pay for being caught out of position as Jets launched a three on two attack which saw Hollyhead make a great save from former Lightning forward Ross Bowers.

A couple of minutes later Zoran Kozic was sent to the sin bin for tripping Nick Poole but the hosts could not turn the pressure into a enough shots on goal.

It was much the same story early in the second period although Adam Carr did set up Gary Clarke for a shot which whistled past the post and Kevin Phillips blocked Carr's efforts a few minutes later.

Lightning finally got on the scoresheet on 32mins 59secs when Carr was quick enough to follow up Chris McEwen's rebounding shot and put it in the back of the net.

And while Jets, who had been content to slow the game down, were still reeling Lighting struck again. This time Grant McPherson fired in from right in of the net at 33mins 52secs.

However Jets went into the second break a goal ahead after Spearing found space at the right hand pipe for the equaliser at 37mins 35secs – Bowers the supplier.

A defensive error allowed the visitors to go back in front with 53 seconds remaining when Nicky Chinn's shot rebounded off Hollyhead to the unmarked Joe Ciccarello to make it 3-2.

Things got worse for Lightning on 43mins 34secs when they failed to clear their zone with Chinn able to find Carl Thompson – again unmarked – at the left pipe to take the tally to 4-2.

Lightning faced further penalty trouble with McPherson called for slashing but Jets looked content to play cautiously on the powerplay and offered little threat.

There was renewed hope for the home team when Adam Radmall dumped the puck into the front of goal and Parez made a deft touch to redirect the puck into the net for Lightning's third goal at 48mins 40secs.

But that was the last time Lightning could find the net even when they had an extra skater on the ice after Holyhead was withdrawn with 58 seconds to go.

Michael Bowman sealed Jets' win with an empty net goal four seconds from time.

On Saturday Lightning had a battle royal in a tough, physical game at Swindon Wildcats when Smulter was given his marching orders on a match penalty for head butting after just 7mins 19secs.

But that did not stop Lightning from taking the lead on the powerplay through Carr at 16mins 33secs.

There were no further goals in the second session but when Josef Kohut struck twice for the home side at 44mins 50secs and 47mins 22secs it looked as though the momentum was going Wildcats way.

However Lightning refused to give up and Carr got the equaliser just one second into a powerplay after Nicky Watt was sent to the penalty box for tripping at 50mins 28secs.

Joakim Wiklander then got the winner to make it 3-2 on a further powerplay at 56mins 18secs after Kohut was called for elbows.