CAPTAIN Emma Thomas netted the winner as Reading Women pulled off a shock 2-1 win at Slough in England Hockey’s Tier One Championship on Sunday, writes Dave Wright.

The Blues had to come from behind and then survive a late penalty stroke to book their place in the quarter finals.

For much of the game, the Conference West side struggled to make much of an impact on their Premier Division hosts.

Slough had the better of the first half and deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark when Kymran Shergill finished off a good move.

Reading, though, continued to play an attacking game, keeping a high-line of three, but most of the intended passes to the forwards were intercepted by Slough’s midfield or defence.

However, that changed when they got around the home defence twice in as many minutes.

Sophie Shakespeare equalised in the 51st minute and Reading’s next attack saw Thomas put them ahead.

The Blues started to play with more confidence, but they came under pressure as Slough pressed hard for an equaliser.

And the hosts were given a golden opportunity to score six minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty stroke for a stick-tackle, but Amy Sheehan’s rising shot went past keeper Aurora Mears’ right-hand post.

A delighted Thomas said: “I thought we played really well. It was a solid performance, we showed good intensity and took our chances in the second half.”

Reading will face another Premier Division side in the quarter finals as they have been drawn away to Clifton Robinsons on March 18. Blues knocked out the same club’s second team in the second round, with Thomas and Shakespeare also on target in a 4-0 victory.

Last Saturday, Reading won 2-0 at Gloucester in Conference West to end a run of three league games without a win.

Abbie Dixon opened the scoring in the 51st minute with Zoe Hopkinson adding to it after 63 minutes, both netting their first league goals of the season.

Thomas commented: “We were pleased to come away with a win as Gloucester are a difficult team to play. I wouldn’t say we were outstanding, but we ground out the result in the end.”

The Blues remain third in the standings with 24 points, but slightly narrowed the gap on the top two, as leaders Trojans (28 points) were held to a goalless draw by Oxford Hawks, while second-placed Stourport (25) lost 1-0 to the fourth club Swansea (22). Reading are home to seventh-in-the-table Isca on Saturday (1.30pm) and will be seeking a double, having won the away fixture 2-1 thanks to a Shakespeare double.

The club’s Rockets team are through to the semi finals of the Ladies’ Tier Three championship after defeating Old Cranleighans 1st XI 7-0 with Lucy Scott netting four goals, junior Harriet Kay two and Ellie Mann one. They led 4-0 at half-time.

  • READING Men kept the pressure on the top two sides in England Hockey’s Premier Division by slamming Sevenoaks 6-0 at home on Saturday.

The Blues remain third in the table, eight points behind leaders Surbiton, who have played a game more, and one point adrift of Beeston. And both those sides have to come to Sonning Lane in the next three weeks.

However, Reading are approaching the time when they will be losing several of their stars due to international commitments as countries prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Australia, which start on April 4.

“I think we will lose eight or nine players,” said head coach Jason Lee.

With this in mind, he has built up a squad of 24 with all but one having already tasted league action this season.

One of his latest signings, James Royce, who has returned to the UK after four years in Australia, played against Sevenoaks.

“All in all, we are not too badly placed,” stated Lee, whose squad contains players from all the four home nations.

Among them are defenders Liam Sandford and Stuart Loughrey who will be playing for England and Ireland respectively in the week-long Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia starting on March 3.

Blues skipper Tom Carson has been playing club hockey in Malaysia and so missed the Sevenoaks game, while former England ace Dan Shingles was not risked following an injury.

Tom’s brothers, Ed and James, were among the scorers against Sevenoaks with Ben Boon, Richard Mantell, both from penalty corners, Dale Hutchinson and Lee Morton completing the rout.

This comfortable win over the second-bottom club came a week after the Blues had defeated tailenders Canterbury 5-0, giving them the double over both opponents.

Lee commented: “I think we did better in these two games than we did when we met them in the first half of the season.

“Our first two games of the new year have been useful as they gave us the chance to sort of reform the links that go to make a good team.

“A lot of players have been away with their own national programmes and they haven’t had much time together in recent weeks.”

Tom Carson and Shingles are expected to return to the squad for this Sunday’s match away to Hampstead & Westminster.

Last Sunday, Reading won 11-0 at Wooton-under-Edge in the Tier One Championship with Boon and James Carson both netting hat-tricks.

Hutchinson bagged a brace with Ed Carson, Loughrey (penalty corner) and Morton (penalty stroke) completing the scoring.

Blues, who led 7-0 at half-time, will face Conference West side Fareham, who are coached by former Reading player Ben Barnes, at Sonning Lane in the quarter finals on March 18.

It was a very successful weekend for the club’s men’s section, as they fielded 11 teams and all were victorious.