The sense of utter dejection among the East Grinstead players at the final whistle summed up a match which could nevertheless prove to be the turning point in their season.

Some thumped the ground in frustration after they held the mighty Reading to a 1-1 draw.

With player-coach Mark Pearn at the hub of things, Grinstead produced their best performance since returning to the premier division in front of a large crowd at Saint Hill.

They should have won but the performance proved they can compete with the best in English hockey's top flight.

Life has been tough after successive promotions as defeats in five of their first six games emphasised.

But, with a full quota of players following the return of Pearn and Kwan Browne, they showed their mettle against a Reading side boasting nine full internationals.

The visitors took the lead after just four minutes when Austin Smith seized on a misplaced pass from Richard Payne and fed Jonty Clarke whose quick reactions gave keeper George Harris no chance.

At that stage you feared a hammering but Harris was in good form during the first half when Reading had the better chances and more of the possession.

Grinstead, though, were by no means out of it. They competed well, had short corner strikes from Browne and Ashley Jackson superbly saved by Simon Mason and threatened an equaliser in the closing stages of the half when Pearn ran through, only to be impeded as he homed in on goal.

Pearn's influence grew in the second half with that of his team. They took the game to Reading from the first whistle and levelled within a minute. Ben Payne pulled the ball back, Browne fired goalwards and Jackson deflected the ball home from close range.

A minute later Pearn put Mark Justice through on goal. Mason came out on top on this occasion but the tone for the half had been set.

Grinstead played some flowing hockey which had Reading on the back foot and holding on. Pearn and Jackson drew further saves from Olympian Mason, Payne and Justice caused numerous problems but a winner would not come.

A draw was about right but on their second half performance Grinstead deserved maximum points.

Pearn said: "This is the first weekend we have had our full squad together and fully fit. Kwan was back last weekend but was jet lagged, having flown in from America the day before.

"It is one thing thinking we are good enough but it is is another proving it. I have always had confidence in the players being able to step up to this level but this proved we can compete with the best.

"What I said to our players afterwards, though, was that it doesn't take a team like Reading to come here to make us play well. We have got to put in that type of performance every week."

Manager Matt Jones feels Grinstead have been playing well for a while without any reward but he is not getting carried away by one good result.

He said: "We can't say we have cracked it entirely but we are one step closer to being the complete thing.

"To be the complete thing you have to compete for 70 minutes without lapses in concentration. However, we have now proved we can compete and get results at this level."

Horsham suffered their first defeat since promotion to the Women's National South Division. Zephanie Cook netted from open play and Liz Key scored from a short corner but they lost 3-2 at home to leaders Maidstone. Manager Jo Humphries said: "We were the better side, had more possession and created lots of chances but were not sharp enough in front of goal."