IT was very much a case of deja vu as Reading completed a double over Berkshire rivals Slough in the Investec Women's Hockey League's Division One South, writes Dave Wright.
They won 1-0 with a Jo Ellis goal at Upton Court Park – just as they had at Sonning Lane in September.
On that occasion, the player-coach scored after 63 minutes, but last Saturday she took a little longer with her all-important strike coming in the 69th minute.
Having taken just one point in their previous two games, it was a vital win for the Blues as it keeps them in touch with unbeaten Wimbledon. They trail the leaders by five points with seven games completed.
They have, however, managed to score only 12 goals – nine fewer than their title rivals – and Reading again found it difficult to break down a resolute Slough defence.
They forced six penalty corners with the last of them being finished off by Ellis. It was her sixth goal of the season, taking her to the top of the division's scoring chart.
Reading visit Canterbury, who are sixth in the table, this coming Saturday (2pm).
Second-bottom Reading Ladies 2nds put up a spirited fight before losing 2-1 to 100 per centers Hampstead & Westminster 2nds in Division One of the South Clubs League.
The 3rds drew 2-2 at West Hampstead in Division 3a, only their second point of the season.
There were more away-day blues for Reading men last weekend, as they crashed 4-1 to fellow strugglers Brooklands Manchester University, leaving them rooted at the foot of the table on two points with half of their league programme completed.
David Flanagan netted a first-half hat-trick, the second of them coming from a 20th-minute penalty stroke. Blues were far from happy with the decision and it led to Peter Scott and Adam Miller and both being yellow carded by umpire Andy Higgins.
The same official issued another four green cards during the game, three to the hosts and one to Reading's Craig Falconer.
Tom Russell made it 4-0 in the 67th minute before Ciaran O'Connell netted a consolation goal for the visitors from a penalty corner right at the end of the game.
This Saturday (6pm) they visit runaway leaders Surbiton, who were 10-1 winners at Sonning Lane on the opening day of the season. The Surrey side are six points clear at the top of the table after nine successive wins.
MBBO Regional One table-toppers Reading 2nds drew 2-2 at Ashford with goals from Fred Newbold and Archie Sweeting, while Reading 3rds slipped to ninth in the table after losing 7-5 at home to OMT. Scott Pearce netted a hat-trick for the Blues with Jarrod Casey and Huw Kimber sharing the other goals.
Strikes from Nick Leach (3), Ian Gallagher (2) and James Manser saw Sonning hammer Oxford 2nds 6-2 to stay top of the MBBO Regional Two on goal difference from South Berkshire, the club they face at Cantley Playing Fields this Saturday (10.30am).
Leach now has 11 goals this season, making him the first player this season to reach double figures in the division.
In MBBO Division One, sixth-placed Sonning 2nds won 3-2 at Eastcote 2nds, who are third, thanks to goals from Colm Hanlon, Harvey Richardson and Elliott Wise.
Sonning ladies drew 2-2 at Wycombe in the South Clubs League Division 3a and slip to fifth in the table ahead of this Saturday's home fixture with Buckingham 2nds.
Three Counties League Premier Division Two leaders Sonning 2nds are now unbeaten in eight games following their 1-0 victory at Thame.
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