READING kept the pressure on unbeaten Investec Women's League Division One South leaders Wimbledon by defeating Harleston Magpies 1-0 at Sonning Lane on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

They were made to work hard by the visitors with their goal coming from a penalty corner which was finished off by Jo Ellis-Day in the 58th minute.

It was the player-coach's ninth goal of the season, leaving her second in the division's scoring list.

Blues remain second in the standings, seven points behind Wimbledon, who boast a 100 per cent record after 12 games.

In turn, they are a whopping 11 points clear of the third club, Cambridge City, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Slough.

This coming Saturday (noon), Reading travel to Southampton to play Trojans, the first of three successive away fixtures.

Reading 2nds, third from bottom, lost 2-1 away to the team immediately below them, Teddington, in Division One of the South Clubs League, while the Rockets went down 3-0 to table-topping Phoenix and Ranelagh in Premier Division Two of the Three Counties League.

Reading Men return to Premier Division action this Sunday (2pm) with a crucial game at University of Exeter.

The sides occupy the bottom two places with just one win apiece from 12 games, the University's victory having come at Sonning Lane early in the season.

And the Blues could be facing one of their former stars, as ex-England international Simon Mantell has joined Exeter from Richmond.

Also with new clubs are two other former Reading players, Jack Clee and Jamie Rawlings, who have switched to Richmond and Fareham respectively.

Reading 2nds didn't miss 12-goal Rawlings last Saturday as they won 6-5 away to Newbury & Thatcham to make it 13 wins out of 13 in MBBO Regional One.

James Lavers bagged a hat-trick, giving him 11 goals for the season, with Sam Armitage, Jatinder Bachu and Tom Ferris also on target.

In the same division, Reading 3rds lost 4-3 at home to Eastcote.

SONNING Men maintained their two-point lead at the top of the MBBO Regional Two table by thumping Harrow 6-0 with goals from James Manser (2), Ian Finlayson, Nick Leach, Noel Plant and Huw Thomas.

This Saturday, they are away to bottom club Milton Keynes 2nds.

In Division One, Sonning 2nds defeated OMT 2nds 4-0 thanks to goals from Jon Sharp (2), Chris Hinton and Jordan Manning.

Sonning Ladies drew 4-4 away to Southgate 2nds in Division 3a of the South Clubs League with Katie Pake and Erica Wong both on target.

In Premier Division Two of the Three Counties League, Sonning 2nds won 2-1 at Wallingford to stay second in the placings, five points behind Phoenix and Ranelagh ahead of their clash at Berkshire County Sports this Saturday.

Sonning 3rds, second in Division Two, were held to a 1-1 draw by Wallingford 3rds and now trail leaders Bicester by four points having played two more games.