Reading faced up to Surbiton in their opening fixture of the 2014/15 NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey Premier League. Last season saw Reading draw the corresponding away fixture 1-1 and win 5-3 at Sonning Lane, finishing up third in the league table on 39 points with Surbiton one place below on 34. However, it is two very different squads who lined up at Sugden Road on Saturday with a great deal of player movement throughout the summer break.

The first half proved a typically tense and frantic start to the season with both sides battling hard and creating plenty of opportunities. The Berkshire visitors finally managed to get the scoreboard rolling six minutes into the second half after winning a short corner, Ben Boon volleying in the initial rebound (41’).

Surbition came straight back at Reading, and just 5 minutes later managed to level the scores through Geoff Mccabe who deflected a fantastic long ball past Tommy Alexanda (46’).

And it took until the final few minutes for Surbiton to settle the game. Firstly Alan Forsyth managing to get the last touch to a good passing hockey move across the Reading circle (62’) and then finally Matt Daly converting Surbiton’s sixth penalty corner a minute from time (69’).

Reading will look to bounce back this weekend against East Grinstead (2.30pm at home).