READING Men produced an outstanding performance to hold leaders Holcombe to a 1-1 draw on Sunday – despite fielding their least experienced team so far this season, writes Dave Wright.

It would perhaps be unfair to say it was also the weakest, as the club boasts plenty of young talent in their squad.

Reading made the trip to Kent without Rick Mantell and Dan Shingles, both unavailable, while Ben Boon, Richard Springham and Jack Smart were all sidelined through injury.

Their replacements included three under-18s – Imre Gerrits, Nick Park and Kiran Patel – and that left the side with an average age of just under 23.

But the whole team, led by player-coach Andy Watts, raised their game against a Holcombe side brimming with internationals who had won eight of their previous nine games.

In an open and fast match, both sides created chances in the opening half with both keepers in good form.

Blues, beaten 3-0 at home by Holcombe in September, rocked their hosts by taking the lead five minutes after half-time.

Monty Jefferson, who had scored his first two goals for Reading the previous week, finished off a good move between himself and Jimmy Carson.

Holcombe hit back strongly, but the Blues defended well with American Ajai Dhadwal looking particularly strong and keeper Tommy Alexander making two smart saves.

Reading, breaking fast, were twice kept out by GB star George Pinner in the Holcombe goal.

The Holcombe equaliser came on 50 minutes when a ball crashed into the circle which Sam Ward deflected into the roof of the net. For the rest of the game, play swung from end to end with both sides having chances to win.

But Reading, who remain seventh in the table, were well pleased to leave with a point.

Team manager Chris Davey said: “The youngsters all played their part, but it was very much a team performance and a great way to end the pre-Christmas league programme.”

Blues are back in action on December 11 when they host Guernsey in the National Cup and then start their indoor league programme in Bromsgrove on December 17-18.

l READING Women’s 4-2 home defeat by unbeaten East Grinstead leaves them without a win in 10 Investec League games.

As it currently stands, the Premier Division tailenders are seven points from safety, but the Blues still believe they can pull clear of the relegation zone.

Julie Whiting said: “We are playing some great hockey and I have every faith we will pull back. It is going to be hard work, but I know we can do it.”

The Welsh international was forced to miss Saturday’s game as she had been concussed during the previous week’s match with Slough.

“I got hit in the head by a Slough shoulder,” added the Cardiff University student.

“I just thought I had a bit of a headache, but then it started to throb a bit. I had a few tests done on Thursday and was told I had concussion.”

Despite missing their influential midfielder, Blues enjoyed a good first half against second-in-the-table East Grinstead, twice bouncing back to equalise.

Georgie Blackwood replied three minutes after Zoe Burrell had given the visitors a fourth-minute lead.

Jess Dean took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence to score in the 24th minute, only for Maz Downer to make it 2-2 from a penalty corner on 28 minutes.

However, the Blues were unable to reply to the visitors’ second-half goals which came from Ruth Gordon after 49 minutes and Takara Haines nine minutes later.

Captain Emma Thomas commented: “Obviously we were disappointed with the result, but I thought it was a much improved performance than last week.

“We competed much better and created more chances.”

She added: “We know we have a massive fight on our hands in the second half of the season, but we will be doing everything we can to stay up.”

Reading commence their indoor league campaign at Telford on December 17-18.