READING were edged out in a nine-goal thriller by Hampstead & Westminster at Sonning Lane on Sunday, writes Dave Wright.

The Blues recovered from conceding two early goals to lead 3-2, but were eventually beaten 5-4 in one of the best games of attacking hockey seen at the ground all season.

Player-coach Andy Watts commented: “Our fight-back was pretty pleasing, but we conceded a few soft goals which were frustrating, so I have mixed feelings about the game.

“We were a bit naive with our defending at times. but there were also some very good goals scored by both sides."

Blues also owed much to keeper Gary Noble, who was making his first appearance for the team in nearly two years.

He was voted his side’s man of the match by both Watts and Hampstead player-coach Kwan Browne.

Noble got his chance as regular No. 1, Tommy Alexander, is among the club’s four players – two Scots and two Welshman - involved in the World League Two event taking place in Belfast this week.

Noble soon came under pressure and Reading found themselves trailing to goals from Stephen Dowds and Richard Alexander inside the first 21 minutes.

Blues hit back through Ben Boon, who got on the end of a high lob from Tom Carson from inside his own half, Monty Jefferson and Ajai Dhadwal, his first for the club, only for Michael Watt to make it 3-3 by half-time.

Sam French put the visitors back in front less than a minute into the second half before Watts netted Reading’s fourth on 44 minutes.

However, Irishman Watt scored his second goal of the game just after the hour mark to secure the win that Hampstead needed to clinch their place in the play-offs along with Wimbledon, Holcombe and Surbiton.

And it is third-placed Surbiton who are the visitors to Sonning Lane this Saturday (6.30pm) when both sides will again be missing players due to the World League.

The game is the second part of a double header, as the same two clubs will be involved in an Investec Women’s League fixture starting at 4.30pm.

Reading are certain to be relegated after managing only two points from 16 games, while Surbiton have sealed top spot with 13 wins and two draws. They went three years without losing a league game until going down to Leicester last month.

Mike Irving’s girls were unlucky to lose 2-1 at fourth-bottom Canterbury last Saturday.

They were the better team for most of the match and were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty stroke when a shot from Emma Thomas looked to be illegally stopped by a defender on the line.

Skipper Thomas did find the net in the 61st minute to cancel out Grace Balson’s fourth-minute penalty corner, but the score was level for only two minutes before Sarah Kerly netted Canterbury’s winner.