HEAD coach Jason Lee described Reading’s 3-2 Premier League win over Wimbledon as a “very good team effort,” writes Dave Wright.

It was a much-needed win by the Blues, following defeats at the hands of Beeston and Holcombe.

“The team is getting better each week,” said Lee following Saturday evening’s match which attracted a crowd of around 250 to Sonning Lane.

“We were a bit unfortunate against Holcombe, but today we added some of the things to last week’s performance. We had a bit more space in their circle and goals came as a sequence. There were some really nice goals. Collectively, it was a good team effort.”

Blues took a 13th-minute lead from a swift counter-attack saw Kiran Patel’s high cross from the right wing turned home by Dale Hutchinson.

Wimbledon, last year’s league winners but without a win so far this season, equalised from their first penalty corner with Alistair Brogdon getting the final touch as the ball flew past keeper Tommy Alexander.

There were penalty corners at both ends before half time and when Blues forced another in the 52nd minute Stuart Loughrey restored their lead.

They didn’t hold it for long, as two minutes later the visitors won another corner, enabling Ed Horler to make it 2-2.

Reading now came under pressure and had a scare when Wimbledon got the ball into the net, only for it to be disallowed for a back-of-the-stick infringement.

And, relieved by the let-off, they returned to the attack, with Ben Boon producing a storming run to create the chance for James Carson to hit the winner in the 63rd minute.

Blues felt they should have been awarded two penalty strokes, including one occasion when a Wimbledon defender stopped the ball with his body while prone on the ground.

While pleased with his team’s performance, Lee gave special praise to two of his players.

“Ciaran O’Connell was really solid in his first game of the season – it’s tough to step straight up – and Kiran Patel, who is only 17, was really strong, too.”

Lee added: “Considering we were missing a few players, this performance reflects well on the strength of the squad. It was a great win.”

Reading duo Ben Francis (2) and Nick Park were among the scorers when Great Britain Under 21s thrashed USA 11-0 in their Sultan of Johor Cup match in Malaysia on Monday.

Blues, who stay fourth in the table, travel up to Manchester this weekend to play seventh-placed Brooklands.

  • READING Ladies were held to a 1-1 draw by Gloucester in the Investec Women’s League Conference West.

Keelie Perham scored in the 46th minute from a penalty corner for her fifth goal in five games with Danielle Gibson equalising on 58 minutes.

“Obviously, we were disappointed not to have won, but a draw was probably a fair result. Both sides had chances to win the game,” said captain Emma Thomas.

“We played some good hockey at times, but we were not always at our best. But we are still unbeaten after five games and we are certainly going in the right direction.”

Head coach Mike Irving agrees, adding: “I really believe this group has the potential to get back into the Premier League, but we are not getting ahead of ourselves and we are taking one game at a time.”

Reading move up to second in the table, four points behind Trojans, who have won all of their five games, and the top two meet at Sonning Lane this Saturday (4.30pm).