READING women secured their third win eight days by defeating Swansea City 2-0 away on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

It means Blues keeper, 15-year-old Abi Miller, has yet to concede a goal in her three Conference West appearances.

Her in-form side made a flying start and dominated the opening stages, forcing several penalty corners.

The pressure paid off with a goal from Keelie Perham after six minutes and eight minutes later captain Esme Swindells doubled the lead from a penalty corner.

Swansea, who are third in the table, gradually edged their way more into the game and won a number of corners.

They did manage to get the ball into the Reading net on one occasion and, though the goal was initially given, the umpires then changed their decision.

The Blues, growing in confidence, continued to defend well in the second half and held out for their third clean sheet in succession.

This win, their fourth in 12 games, leave them fifth in standings ahead of their trip to Southampton to face seventh-placed Trojans this Saturday.

Reading men crashed to a 3-0 defeat at second-in-the-table Hampstead & Westminster at Paddington Rec on Sunday.

They found themselves trailing from as early as the fifth minute when Matt Guise Brown converted a penalty corner and it was another set-piece which led to Richard Smith increasing his side's advantage in the 19th minute.

Blues worked hard to get back in the game, but failed to take their chances, while Toby Reynolds-Cotterill made a number of fine saves in the home goal.

In pushing men forward, they were caught out by Stephen Kelly, who forced home the hosts' third from a goalmouth scramble five minutes from time.

After two green cards for H&W, Blues withdrew keeper Chris Wyver in favour of a kicking-back, but were still unable to bag a consolation goal.

Reading are back on the road this Saturday (6pm) when they play eighth-placed Wimbledon at the Kings College Sports Ground.

The men's 2nds won 5-1 at Banbury in England Hockey's Tier 2 Championship and will be away to Clifton Robinsons 2nds in the fourth round this coming Sunday.