Chalfont's undefeated run throughout 1996 in the Nastro Azzurro South league came to an end at Cressex on Saturday in a scintillating match to which both sides contributed some fine hockey.
The students enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with the speed of right winger Johnny Collins causing several problems and Edward Nash fired in their second penalty corner to give them a seventh minute lead.
Although Reading squandered further chances, Chalfont came back strongly with Mark Pearce and Mark McCree prominent in mid-field and David Galletly producing some incisive breaks into the Reading defence.
Phil Stewart missed two straight forward chances and despite the students twice being reduced to 10 men through temporary suspensions, Chalfont could find no way past Ed Jones the impressive Reading goalkeeper.
Fifteen minutes from time a break against the run of play be Nash and Mark Koops set up Derwyn Baille for Reading's second goal which was shortly followed by a penalty corner conversion by Koops which looked suspiciously high.
The abolition of offside this season may be responsible for many large scores but good goalkeeping can still have a large influence, as in Saturday's goalless draw in the Nastro Azzurro South League when Clive Bearman and Kodak's David Wilson were at their best.
Chalfont stormed through the opening twenty minutes and should have led comfortably. Barry Pearse put a fine first time effort narrowly wide, and Mark Pearce and Phil Stewart both missed the easiest of goals.
In a more evenly balanced second half, Bearman was forced to make two good saves to deny Fabian, the most energetic of the Kodak forwards. At the other end a penalty corner shot from Giles Payne stretched Wilson to the limit.
Chalfont C Bearman, G Payne, A Earnshaw, S Shipley, C Blamey, M McCree, M Pearce (Capt), P Stewart, D Galletly, B Pearse, Gareth Bullock
Subs used: D Dunford & N Turner