Enfield returned triumphantly from league leaders Reading on Thursday night after edging a tight Division Two game 11-10 (2-1, 3-4, 2-0, 4-5).

The result was well-deserved and made up for the disappointment of throwing away an early lead and losing 15-14 at home to Reading in April.

Enfield again started the game with great energy and their efforts paid off as Richard Waller and Charlie Briers put them 2-1 up at the end of the first.

Briers was also on target in the second as he continued to cause havoc from 2m, while R Waller and Tom Mendham found the net as well.

Reading responded strongly though as they attacked their favoured shallow-end goal and levelled the game 5-5 at the half.

Enfield’s hat-trick hero Richard Waller before the game at Reading

In the third, Enfield edged back in front, with Alex Waller launching an exquisite far-post pass that allowed Briers to comfortably slam the ball past the keeper.

Late in the third, Captain Rob Threadgold extended Enfield’s lead with a fine finish to make the score 7-5 going into the final quarter.

Mindful of what happened in the reverse fixture at Southgate, Enfield pressed hard to defend their two-goal advantage in the fourth.

The tactics worked as Enfield capitalised on three man-ups through Briers, R Waller and A Waller to make it 10-8 with four minutes to play.

When Andy Rollé scored after a smart one-two with A Waller with 3.01 remaining, the visitors were in front by three and despite two late goals from Reading, Enfield closed the game out to seal a memorable 11-10 victory.

The defeat was the first of the season for Reading, who before Thursday’s game were top of Division Two with four wins from four.

Enfield are in London Water Polo League action again next Tuesday (16 June), away at Beckenham, 9pm start.

Enfield’s team in full: Andy Boorman, Alex Waller (1), Charlie Briers (4), Richard Waller (3), Rob Threadgold (1), Andy Rollé (1), Tom Mendham (1), Martin Ilievski, Tony Matthews, Andy Poore & Craig Snowdon.