READING Men boosted their hopes of reaching the play-offs with two excellent victories at the weekend, writes Dave Wright.

The Blues defeated fellow top-four side Surbiton 3-1 at Sonning Lane on Saturday thanks to a Richard Mantell hat-trick and followed up with a 7-3 victory at East Grinstead on Sunday with skipper Tom Carson bagging three of the goals.

They remain third in the table on 30 points, four points behind Beeston, who are their visitors on Sunday, and two adrift of Surbiton, with Wimbledon also on 30 points. All have three Premier Division games remaining apart from Surbiton, who have only two.

Surbiton travelled to Sonning on Saturday as the league leaders, but were soon in trouble, conceding a penalty stroke in the 17th minute which enabled Mantell to open his account.

And three minutes later the former England defender doubled the lead from his side’s second penalty corner of the game.

Shortly afterwards, Reading conceded a penalty stroke themselves, enabling Alan Forsyth to cut the deficit, but the hosts were enjoying the better of the exchanges and further pressure led to Tom Carson forcing another penalty corner, giving Mantell the opportunity to clinch his treble.

Blues continued to force short corners, but Mantell was denied further goals by the Surbiton keeper, Taylor Seager-Green, who certainly saved his side from an even heavier defeat.

The visitors, missing four England internationals, were not without chances themselves, but in-form goalie Tommy Alexander showed why he has been selected by Scotland for next month’s Commonwealth Games making several excellent saves.

Blues largely cruised through the second half as they inflicted only Surbiton’s third league defeat of the season.

Mantell commented: “It was an important three points for us. We are looking good for the play-offs.”

He added: “It was nice to score a hat-trick, especially against a top team like Surbiton. I can’t remember the last time I got one, it must have been a while ago.”

Mantell was also on target at East Grinstead as Reading completed a high-scoring double over the Sussex side, having beaten them 6-1 at home in November.

Ben Boon, who had bagged a brace on in that game, took only four minutes to open Blues’ account last Sunday.

Wesley Jackson equalised in the 18th minute, but two minutes later James Carson restored Blues’ lead and Owain Dolan Gray soon followed with a third.

Tom Carson opened his account from a penalty corner on 42 minutes and went on to complete his hat-trick with strikes in the 49th and 63rd minutes.

Mantell fired home a penalty strike in the 55th minute, while Simon Faulkner and Tony Wilson pulled two back for Grinstead, both from penalty corners.

Reading stage their final two home matches of the league campaign next weekend - with Brooklands MU the visitors on Saturday (6pm), followed by Beeston on Sunday (2.30pm).

Blues defender Liam Sanford was this week confirmed in the England squad for the Commonwealth Games in Australia next month.

Head coach Bobby Crutchley has named the same 18 players who secured the silver medal at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia last weekend.