Reading Women fought back from two goals down to beat Olton & West Warwicks 3-2 and keep alive their chance of winning the Investec Conference West, writes Dave Wright.

They are a point behind new leaders Stourport - 2-0 winners over title rivals Trojans last weekend - with just one point separating the leading trio, all having three fixtures remaining.

Blues, however, have by far the inferior goal difference, so if they are to finish top, they will probably need to win all of their remaining games while hoping their rivals slip up.

If they are to maintain their title challenge then they will need to show the determination and fighting spirit they displayed at Sonning Lane last Saturday.

It didn’t look promising for them when they conceded two early goals, with Harriet Payne scoring from a penalty corner after eight minutes and Alice Conquest doubling Olton’s lead two minutes later. It would have been three goals but for a fine save from keeper Auora Mears.

But Reading regrouped, made some tactical adjustments, and battled their way back.

They enjoyed the better of rest of the half and were rewarded with a 17th-minute goal from Sophie Shakespeare following a short corner. Just before half-time Shakespeare was only inches away from bringing the scores level.

Reading continued to have the upper hand in the second half and deservedly equalised on 52 minutes when, from a penalty corner, Emma Royce made no mistake.

With Abbie Dixon outstanding in midfield despite nursing a leg injury, Blues continued to pour forward and bagged the winner in the 56th minute with Shakespeare firing home an unstoppable shot from a tight angle.

Either side of the winner, Dixon was denied by onrushing keeper Fran Taylor, while Shakespeare was only a whisker away from another goal.

It was the third time in the last four games that Blues have come from behind to win a game.

A delighted skipper, Emma Thomas, said: “We made life a bit difficult for ourselves by going two goals down in the first 10 minutes, but we changed a few things tactically and that made a real difference.

“It was really pleasing that we were able to find a way back and score a couple of really nice goals. Sophie’s goal was amazing goal and Abbie Dixon was fantastic in the middle of the field for us. She created a lot.”

Thomas added: “We played some great hockey and some terrible hockey, hopefully, we will play more great hockey for the rest of the season. We’ve got three league games left and we are looking to win them all, but we do need Stourport to slip up.”

Blues face a busy weekend with a trip to Oxford Hawks this Saturday (12 noon) followed by a re-arranged game at Cannock on Sunday (12.30pm), both their hosts occupying places in the bottom three of the table.

To complete a good weekend for the women’s section, Reading Under-18s defeated Surbiton in the quarter-finals of the national under-18 Cup. The tie ended 3-3 before the young Blues won 4-3 on penalty flicks.