BEN Boon bagged a hat-trick as Reading won 4-1 at Brooklands in Manchester on Sunday, writes Dave Wright.

“We were pleased to win up there as it hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for us in recent seasons,” said delighted team manager Chris Davey.

Blues came under early pressure and conceded penalty corners with goalkeeper Tommy Alexander also pulling off the first of several outstanding saves.

As the first half progressed, Reading came more into the game, although there were scoring chances at both ends in an entertaining affair.

Boon broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time with a reverse shot from a narrow angle that went in off a home defender’s stick.

Brooklands levelled the scores through Dave Flanagan four minutes into the second half to raise hopes of securing their first point of the season.

But from there on, Blues dominated possession and created a series of opportunities with great work from the forwards pressing hard on the home back line and forcing mistakes.

Jimmy Carson restored the visitors’ lead in the 54th minute with Boon going on to make the game safe with goals after 61 and 66 minutes, both from short range after good passing moves.

Reading remain seventh in the table, seven points ahead of Brooklands who are immediately below them.

This Saturday the Blues are away to sixth-placed Surbiton with a 6pm pushback.

The same two clubs also meet in the Investec Women’s League at Sugden Road at 3.30pm.

It is a top-versus-bottom clash with pointless Reading trailing unbeaten leaders Surbiton by 11 points after five games.

Last Saturday the Blues lost again, 3-0 at home to Leicester.

They looked the better side in the opening stages, but the visitors edged their way into the game, enjoying more possession, and went ahead on 22 minutes through Katie Long with a reversed-stick shot.

And shortly afterwards they doubled their lead with Maddy Newlyn pouncing on a loose ball to fire home for the away side.

Reading pushed hard in the second half, but could not break down the visitors’ defence and they conceded a third goal just before the end when Liz George deflected in a cross from Long to seal the victory.

Reading have this week signed Julie Whiting from league rivals Clifton Robinsons.

The 21-year-old midfielder is a Welsh international with 28 caps.

Born in Solihull, she played for Olton & West Warwicks, Stourport and Swansea City before joining Clifton at the start of this season.

But defender Elen Barnes, another Wales player, has left Sonning Lane to join Conference East club Hampstead & Westminster.

England international Susie Gilbert, who went to play for a club in New Zealand after failing to make GB’s Olympic squad for Rio, has been deleted from Reading’s list of registered league players.

Reading are home to Barnes in the second round of the Investec Women’s Cup on Sunday.