Hockey: Reading slain by Slay

EVEN WITH Great Britain players absent, there were no surprises in the English Hockey Association Cup third-round games yesterday, although the holders Reading struggled to beat their neighbours, Maidenhead, 3- 2.

Reading twice came from behind in a hard-fought game before Jon Slay scored the winner from the penalty spot with just three minutes remaining.

Earlier in the game, Maidenhead, with the Welsh international player- coach Mike Williamson and the former England international Peter Gibbins controlling the midfield, and the veteran Kartar Davatwal a tower of strength at the back, had taken the lead through Paul Arnott in the ninth minute. Indeed, before the opening goal the England schoolboy international Matt Daley had missed two sitters in front of goal. Gibbins scored Maidenhead's second.

In Saturday's League games Canterbury, with a 5-2 win against Bournville - David Mathews scored three times to take his tally to 19 in seven games - moved two points clear at the top with Reading, 3-1 winners against champions Cannock, moving into second place.

In the women's Premier, Fyffes Leicester also moved two points clear after their 3-1 win at Slough with Hightown, following their 6-0 win at Doncaster, slipping into second place.

Results, Digest, page 5