Reading v East Grinstead, 7 March 2009 – Pat Rowley reports:

Reading’s England goalkeeper Nick Brothers was sent off in the top of the table English League match against East Grinstead at Saint Hill and it cost his side dearly.

His deliberate foul outside his penalty area in the 60th minute saw him given a ten minute suspension and concede a penalty corner.
German Martin Haner beat Grinstead’s reserve goalkeeper at the corner and that proved the decisive blow, the Sussex club going on to win 2-1.

Reading had scored first, after 25 minutes, with a corner goal by Tom Bertram, the former British defender. Haner levelled the scores just before half-time.

With three oremier matches remaining, Grinstead’s win took them to the top of the premier league for the first time this season.
Cannock also moved above Reading, just a point behind Grinstead, with a hard-earned 2-1 win over bottom club Southgate at Trent Park. Will Pearce scored both Cannock goals at corners.

Cannock v Southgate

Two goals by Will Pearce brought Cannock their first English League win for five weeks, a 2-1 victory over bottom club Southgate at Trent Park.

The result put Cannock firmly back in the title race and probably condemned Southgate, four points adrift with three to play, to relegation
Yet Southgate had had the great tonic of a goal inside the first minute as Joel Evans forced the ball in at the far post after 36 seconds.

After Pearce had levelled the scores from the rebound at a Cannock penalty corner, Southgate were denied a second first half goal by England goalkeeper James Fair making a brilliant save from a Rick Gay corner shot destined for a top corner of the goal.

Midway through the second half, Cannock were denied the lead when defender Southgate’s Mark Ellis got a stick to a waist high shot by Harry Jawanda. But, soon after, Cannock forced a corner and Pearce snatched the decisive goal.