Reading's disappointment in losing 1-0 to Surbiton on Saturday was soon forgotten when news came through that Bowdon Hightown had also been beaten, 2-1 at home by Buckingham, writes Dave Wright.
For it meant that the Blues are assured of their Premier Division status for another season, leaving Bowdon, the visitors to Sonning Lane this Saturday, and Buckingham to fight it out to avoid automatic relegation on the final day of the regular season.
Despite their defeat, Reading can be proud of their performance against the unbeaten Investec League leaders Surbiton.

In fact, this will rate among their best displays of the season, as for much of the game they matched their opponents who came to Sonning Lane unbeaten away from home since October, 2013.
The hosts produced some neat approach work, showing good pace down the flanks, the nearest they came to scoring was when a diving Emma Thomas was only inches away from turning in a low right-wing cross from Ashlie Caddick.
Reading also forced three penalty corners in the first half but again they came to nothing.

They fully deserved to be on level terms at half-time, so it came as a major blow when they found themselves a goal down within 60 seconds of the resumption. And the Surbiton scorer was Jenna Woolven, a former Reading player.

Blues, however, responded extremely well. They went on to enjoy the better of the second half, having more possession than their visitors and applying more pressure.
But still the goals would not come, even from three more penalty corners and a penalty stroke.

There were less than five minutes remaining when Helen Richardson-Walsh, now playing in a more attacking role, burst into the Surbiton circle, where she was upended by keeper Abi Walker.
Captain Thomas took the stroke, but placed the ball wide of the right-hand post. This missed golden opportunity virtually summed up Reading's main weak spot all season.
Blues, who had been beaten 7-0 at Sugden Road earlier in the season, certainly deserved to take a point.

There were plenty of positives to come out of the game, among them an assured display from Rebecca Van Berkel who has steadily become a more confident and better player as the season as progressed.
Reading, who will finish eighth in the final league placings, complete their campaign with a home game against Bowdon.
The Manchester side are just one point better off than Buckingham, so will need to win to be sure of going into the relegation/promotion play-off. Buckingham, with a superior goal difference of four, complete their league fixtures at fifth-placed East Grinstead.

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Reading men completed their league fixtures with a 3-1 defeat away to Brooklands MU.
They were forced to field a depleted side for the long trip to Manchester, which in the past has not proved a particularly happy ground for the Blues.
Ben Boon's 40th-minute goal cancelled out Sam Perrin's first half goal for the home side before Peter Flanagan, with a penalty stroke on 51 minutes and Graeme Wolfenden, a minute later, inflicted defeat on the visitors.
Player-coach Andy Watts, nursing a broken finger, tweeted: "Disappointing result, but must now look forward to the play-offs."
Reading, who finish third in the Premier Division standings, will meet runners-up Surbiton at Lee Valley, while unbeaten Holcombe take on the fourth club Wimbledon. Both games are on Saturday, April 16.

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Reading Ladies 2nd extended their unbeaten record to 21 games by hammering Wokingham 10-0 in a top-versus-bottom clash on Saturday.
Lucy Scott led the scoring with three goals, while there were two apiece for Lucy Lee-Smith and Ellie Mann, with the others coming from Hannah Gilmour, Rachel Heath and Sophie Liu.
Reading will be crowned Trysports League Premier Division champions if they get at least a point from their final game against title-rivals Sonning on Saturday.
Home side Sonning trail Blues by two points and with a vastly inferior goal difference after winning their game in hand by a 5-0 margin against Sonning 2nds on Wednesday.