READING threw away a two-goal lead and were held to a 3-3 draw by East Grinstead in their Investec League match at Sonning Lane on Sunday, writes Dave Wright.

It was a blow for the Blues as they wanted to close the gap on the Sussex side who are immediately above them in the table.

A win would have closed the gap to three points, but, with just a draw, Reading now trail EG by six points with 10 of the 18 fixtures completed.

However, at least Blues move up a place to seventh with eight points, one more than the two sides immediately below them, Leicester and Bowdon, with Buckingham bottom on two points.

Reading, seeking their third win on the bounce, found themselves trailing to a fourth-minute goal from Pippa Chapman, but seven minutes later Kate Richardson-Walsh equalised from a penalty corner.

Blues took the lead on 17 minutes when New Zealander Georgie Blackwood got on the end of a smart through ball from Aussie Emma Scriven.

Great Britain skipper Kate extended the lead in the 27th minute from her side’s third penalty corner of the half, with a shot being partially-blocked before rolling over the line.

The visitors worked hard to get back in the game and forced keeper Sarah Ellis into making a superb save before pulling a goal back through Zoe Burrell just before half-time.

Ellis, recalled to the side after a three-match absence, came to her side’s rescue again early in the second half, but she was unable to prevent Chapman bringing the scores level on 48 minutes.

At this point, Blues had lost skipper Emma Thomas, who had to be helped off the field after receiving a painful blow on her knee cap.

With Reading unable to repeat the pressure they had put on Kirsty Mackay’s goal in the first half, it was EG who looked the more likely side to win the game, but they could not find a way past Ellis.

Coach Mike Irving said: "It was disappointing not to get all three points as at 3-1 up we were in the driving seat.

“However, at 3-3 they (EG) were in a real position where they could have made it 4-3 with Sarah having to make a couple of fine saves, and so in the end I was pleased to get a point.

“It moves us up one place in the table, so we’re heading in the right direction.”

Reading visit fourth-placed Clifton this Saturday (1pm), their last league game before the winter break.