Hockey: Vital win for Hampstead & Westminster

Hampstead & Westminster claimed a vital 3-2 win over in-form Premier Division rivals Reading to give their season a lift.

Matt Guise-Brown put them ahead from a short corner on four minutes, but Reading were level from a set-piece of their own soon after.

Guise-Brown restored the Hampstead lead with another trademark drag flick and captain Toby Roche made it 3-1 seven minutes before the break, tapping in at the far post from close range.

Reading replied on the stroke of half-time to set up a tense second half, but Hampstead held on for three much-needed points.

They play host to Sevenoaks at Paddington Recreation Ground on Saturday, looking to maintain their solid home form and gather momentum towards the top four.

Hampstead’s women kept their excellent run of form going with a 6-0 win over Harleston Magpies to preserve their 100 per cent record at the top of the Conference East table on goal difference.

Emily Maguire opened the scoring after only four minutes, but Hampstead were unable to capitalise on a host of other chances during the first half, until Annabel Driver doubled their lead on the stroke of half time from a short corner.

The hosts scored three quick goals at the start of the second half to take firm control, though, with captain Annebeth Wijtenburg firing in from a corner.

Lauren Turner then added a superb brace to make it 5-0 with only 10 minutes of the second half played, but Hampstead’s intensity levels then dropped off.

They did manage to score a sixth, thanks to a neat deflection from Jasmine Clark, to make it seven wins out of seven ahead of their biggest challenges of the season over the next two weekends.

Hampstead meet London rivals Wimbledon on Sunday, before facing Sevenoaks the following weekend.