EuroCanterbury Ladies missed out on the chance of playing in Europe next season after losing 1-0 at home to Reading in their England Hockey League Women’s Championship play-off at Polo Farm on Sunday.

A win would have been good enough to take them through, as Leicester have already qualified by virtue of winning the league title.

Alex Danson scored the winner five minutes into the second half for the in-form visitors, their third win in three meetings between the clubs this season, and 11th in a row.

Reading who finished third in the league, four points behind runners-up Canterbury, now face Leicester, 5-1 winners against Bowdon Hightown in the other play-off, in the final at Cannock next Saturday.