READING Men kept alive their slim hopes of making the play-offs with a win and a draw last weekend, writes Dave Wright.

The Blues edged home 3-2 against East Grinstead on Saturday evening before drawing 2-2 with Beeston on Sunday.

“We are definitely still in with a chance,” said player-coach Andy Watts. “To get four points out of two teams who are just above us in the league made it a good weekend.”

Reading remain seventh in the Premier Division table, six points adrift of Hampstead & Westminster in fourth place.

Watts continued: “It is just unfortunate we haven’t got more points already on the board that would put us in, or closer to, the top four.

“We are still in with a chance of getting there, but we have to beat both Hampstead & Westminster and Loughborough, whilst also trying to get something out of our games with Wimbledon and Surbiton.

“It’s going to be tough, but we are certainly up for it.”

Despite coming under early pressure on Saturday, Reading scored twice in the opening 16 minutes through Ed Carson and Nick Park, while Richard Mantell’s penalty corner produced a fine save from keeper Paddy Smith.

But the scores were level by the interval thanks to Chris Porter and a Simon Faulkner penalty corner with the last play of the half.

As in the opening period, the men from Sussex started the second half on the offensive and it led to them forcing three early penalty corners.

Reading defended them well and showed the way by regaining the lead from their first corner of the second half with Richard Mantell driving the ball low past Smith. He then denied Imre Gerrits in a one-on-one situation, while it took a goal-line clearance to deny Ben Boon getting a fourth for Reading.

On Sunday, Blues twice came from behind to share the points with Beeston.

Kiran Patel, with his first Premier Division goal, cancelled out Mo Gandhi’s 13th-minute opener.

The visitors regained the lead through Jonny Wilkinson on 25 minutes, only for James Carson to equalise two minutes from time.

James’ brother Tom missed both games as he is on England duty and the forward will again be absent when Blues visit unbeaten leaders Wimbledon on Sunday (2.30pm).

Reading were hammered 6-1 by them earlier in the season with former star Simon Mantell scoring twice.

“I will do my best to stop him scoring this time,” commented brother Richard.

The Blues defender added: “It’s still possible we can make the play-offs, but we need to get three points at Wimbledon.”

It was another ex-Sonning Lane star who helped inflict defeat on Reading Women last Saturday.

Alex Danson scored the opening goal as Clifton Robinsons won 3-2 and the Olympic gold medallist was a constant threat to the home defence.

Blues equalised through skipper Emma Thomas and thought they had gone ahead when Georgina Bathurst netted from a goalmouth scramble.

Umpire Gill Lord initially gave the goal, but Clifton protests led to her conferring with the other official, Cathy Wright, and they instead awarded a penalty corner.

Claire Thomas scored twice in as many minutes to make it 3-1 to Clifton, with Georgie Blackwood pulling one back on 54 minutes.

“We were more disappointed to concede those two quick goals than we were with the disallowed goal,” added Emma Thomas.

Reading remain winless after 14 games and, with just four games remaining, relegation is beginning to look inevitable.

“We have a mountain to climb, but we won’t give up the fight,” said Thomas.

Blues are away to second-placed Holcombe this Saturday (6pm) when they will be facing several of their former players.