READING head coach Jason Lee admitted he was disappointed with the result but not with his team’s overall display following their 2-1 defeat by Hampstead & Westminster in the opening league match at Sonning Lane on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

“I thought it was a good performance,” he said.

“We are a very new team. For more than half the squad this was their first experience of playing Premier league hockey, let alone playing for the Reading first XI.

“Hampstead lost in the play-off final last year, so we played a very good team who are well established. We only lost 2-1 and we had a couple of chances that could easily have seen us get at least a point.”

Lee continued: “Only two of our guys are senior internationals (Liam Sanford and Lee Morton) which is less than many other clubs, so to play to the standard they showed was, I thought, pretty impressive.”

The coach had England central defender Sanford playing a midfield role, explaining: “Liam won’t be with us for much this season due to his international commitments, so we wanted to make sure our back unit kind of becomes established and getting used to the way we play (the ball) out of the back.”

On a rain-lashed evening, returning keeper Chris Wyver was soon brought into action before conceding a goal after 14 minutes scored by Jonny Gooch, a former Reading player, after Marc Edwards had held off two challenges and slipped the ball through to the Welshman.

Blues equalised in the 28th minute when Scotland forward Morton, who had caused Hampstead problems from early on, dragged visiting defenders out of position and crossed to the left-hand post for Matt Richards to turn over the line.

Morton went close to scoring himself, while there were more great saves by Wyver at the other end.

Reading were slow out their blocks in the second half and within a minute found themselves trailing again, with German Anton Pohling deflecting the ball home after a long ball into the circle.

Hampstead generally had the better of the second half, only to find Wyver in outstanding form, particularly when facing penalty corners, the visitors having eight in all compared to only two for Reading.

Blues went close from their first penalty corner with 15 minutes remaining, Charlie Ellison seeing his effort cleared off the line by a defender.

“There were certainly some positives to come out of the game which we will take into next week’s match,” said Lee.

They are home again this Sunday (2pm) when Brooklands Manchester University will be the visitors.

Reading Women get their Investec League Conference West campaign underway this Saturday (1.30pm) when they face Swansea, the teams having finished second and fourth respectively last season.

Player-coach Jo Ellis, having rejoined the club, will have a number of new faces in her squad, including international keeper Amy Tennant.

With Olympic gold medallist Maddie Hinch deciding to take a break from international hockey, 24-year-old Tennant now has a good chance of becoming England’s No. 1.