L1: Reading 1 Canterbury 1
By Reading Hockey Club • Feb 22nd, 2010 • Category: L1, Match ReportsNot the resounding result Reading were looking for this weekend as a young and sprightly Canterbury side forced them to share points in front of a home crowd at Sonning Lane on Saturday.
A bad day at the office this weekend for Reading who were again lacking in inspiration as they took on Canterbury at home, a place where they are usually tough to take points from. Despite a good start from Reading, they spent most of the first half turning the ball over far too cheaply in the final third, and letting the experienced Mel Clewlow make too many easy forehand tackles.
Canterbury were quick on the break, punishing some sloppy passing from Reading and a counter attack in the 13th minute lead to a penalty corner that allowed the influential Clewlow to put the Kent side 1-0 up from the top of the ‘D’.
Reading were good in patches, linking well between the defence and midfield thanks to some superb distribution from Helen Richardson, but they were unable to attack with any real energy or momentum and Canterbury stayed ahead into the break.
It was a better second half for the blues and after Canterbury were reduced to 10-men within the first 10 minutes, Reading pushed for an equaliser, finally finding one in the 47th minute when Alex Danson deflected in a penalty corner.
But Reading found little else to throw at the game and were at times lucky to stay level, with ‘man-of-the-match’ Beth Storry showing her GB calibre in goal, keeping out numerous chances in her first game for Reading after a long shoulder injury.
It wasn’t a game for the neutral fan, as a largely scrappy match finished 1-1, with neither team able to find the back of the net for the rest of the half.
Reading take on Olton and West Warwicks away next Saturday where they will see the return of Emma Thomas and Marianne Downer to strengthen the back line, and will be hoping to rediscover their form and hang onto 2nd place ahead of Slough.
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