Saturday’s top of the table clash did not disappoint, despite the efforts of Storm Bert, as Fareham returned to the top spot with a convincing win over the previous leaders Reading 3s.

Last week’s winning goal scorer Lois Haigh joined Jenny Sinclair and Georgie White on the list of unavailable players this week but the return of Amy Hill and Zoe Stride from injury was a timely boost and, with Rebecca Reavell making a welcome return to the line up, Fareham started the game with a squad of fourteen players.

The visitors from Reading started confidently but the first chance fell to Fareham as Lauren Beagrie had one of of several powerful runs down the right before seeing her shot saved by the keeper, Abigail Cox, in the 4th minute. Three minutes later Gracie Coleman intercepted a clearance and crossed from the right, just out of reach of Lauren.

The first Fareham penalty corner came in the 10th minute but when Reading had their first set piece opportunity three minutes later they came close when Jadzia Lamdin shot just wide of the left post.

The home team responded well. Amy Hill delivered a dangerous pass across the goalmouth in the 19th minute after good work by Gracie who linked up with Rebecca Reavell, to create a chance for Amy in the 22nd minute but the shot was just wide.

Seconds later, in the same minute, GRACIE COLEMAN received a return pass from Amy Hill and finished with a reverse shot past the keeper to give Fareham a 1-0 lead.

Reading looked to respond and had a very good opportunity in the 31st minute from a penalty corner but the home side were saved by Aimee Timms who stretched to block a goal-bound shot on the line before clearing the danger.

With half-time approaching, Fareham doubled their lead in the 34th minute. It looked like the chance had gone but Sam Powell didn’t give up and retrieved the ball after it was cleared towards the left touchline. She beat a defender and got to the goal line before delivering a perfect cross for SARAH ATKINSON to score from close range.

Despite recent bad experiences when holding a two goal lead, there was no stopping the home team as they looked to increase their advantage immediately from the re-start as the rain returned. Two penalty corners were won by the hosts in quick succession and, from the second of these, they almost scored again when Sarah Atkinson’s fierce shot hit the angle of post and crossbar.

Reading’s reprieve was a brief one as the score became 3-0 two minutes later in the 41st minute when TARA LEMON scored with a first-time shot from another PC. It might not have had the venom of Sarah’s previous effort but it found its way inside the far post with unerring accuracy.

Reading were now on the ropes and Sarah Atkinson was just wide from a shot two minutes later after an initial effort from Alicia Salter was blocked.

In the 49th minute a shot from Amy Hill appeared to have been stopped by a foot on the line but, after consultation, the umpires opted not to give a penalty stroke and Fareham had to settle for a penalty corner. However, the umpires made up for this five minutes later when Lauren Beagrie’s shot from another PC hit a Reading foot in the ‘D’ and this time a penalty stroke was awarded. The decision appeared to be harsh as the shot looked to be going just wide but it made up for the non-award of a stroke in the previous incident. SARAH ATKINSON stepped up and placed the penalty stroke wide of the keeper’s right hand and into the corner for her second goal.

With the score now 4-0 the damage had been done and there was no realistic way back for the visitors although they kept trying and would manage to reduce the deficit slightly. The game remained very competitive to the end although an increase in the number of cards shown to both teams in the final fifteen minutes seemed a little harsh in the circumstances as the closing minutes were a bit chaotic – in contrast to the composed way that Fareham had managed the closing stages a week earlier. Sarah Atkinson came close to completing her hat-trick when her deflection, from a Katie Paxman shot, shaved the outside of the post.

The visitors finally got a reward for their efforts in the 64th minute after a shot led to some confusion in the ‘D’ before ZAYNA VAN DER ZIJL forced the ball over the line from very close range to reduce the arrears. They came close to scoring again two minutes from the end but Sophia Barclay deflected a shot just wide with her pads.

That was the end of the goal opportunities but it is worth mentioning a fifty yard run out of defence from Aimee Timms, highlighted by several perfectly timed desperate lunges to retain possession, which livened up the closing minutes but shortened the lives of those of a nervous disposition.

This was probably our best performance this season, in difficult conditions against a very good side who will be near the top of the top of the table when the season ends. Despite the strength of the opposition, it would not have been out of place had the winning margin been even greater.

After two big wins and returning to the top of the league table we now need to get our feet back on the ground to focus on our final two games before Christmas against tough and familiar opponents. We begin with an away game against Oxford Hawks 2s on Saturday (13.30).