Hartley Wintney crashed out of second qualifying round of FA Cup after a hard-fought defeat in their replay match against Bath City on Tuesday night. 

Alex Fletcher scored a goal in extra time to help Bath City narrowly defeat the Row in the replay after the first match ended in a 2-2 draw, and the first 90 minutes of the replay ended at 0-0.

For most of the replay match, Hartley Wintney matched the Romans and for periods dominated the proceedings.

READ MORE: Hartley Wintney secure replay against Bath

A pulsating first-half saw the teams go in scoreless and this was due to  some truly inspired goalkeeping from the respective goalkeepers. 

On nine minutes a free  kick from Harry Cooksley for the Row saw Harrison Bayley head over. Two minutes later a cross from Romans Tom Smith found Cody Cooke who saw his header saved by Adam Desbois in the Hartley goal. Not to be outdone Joe Wright pulled off a superb double save on 12 minutes for City. A Tom Leggett cross found Anis Nuur whose header looked goal bound until saved by Wright and in the ensuing rebound scramble the keeper was able to again block. Three minutes later Desbois pulled off a smart save when Kieran Parselle got a header on target from a free kick by Chris Lines.

Desbois was again in the action on 22 minutes when Lines found Fletcher  who saw his effort brilliantly saved by the Row keeper.  Three minutes later Hartley had a good chance to take the lead. A through ball found Zidan Akers behind the Romans defence and confronted with a one on one dual with Wright which was won by the City goalkeeper.

On 31 minutes Hartley made good progress down the left and a pass inside gave Nuur a chance. The well struck shot from the Row midfielder went just over the bar. Cody Cooke for City went on a long individual run on 36 minutes and his parting shot went just wide.  A good flowing move for the Row through midfield on 40 minutes saw Bayley feed Akers who brought out a good save from Wright.  The Row finished the half strongly and a cross from the right wing by Leggett found Aaron McLeish-White who saw his header tipped over by Wright.

After the thrills and spills of the first period, it was perhaps inevitable that the teams would show more caution. The first chance arrived on 55 minutes for the Row. Akers did well to get free on the left and his low inviting cross went across the face of the goal with no takers. Hartley remained with a distinct edge in play with Leggett foraging down the right and delivering inviting crosses. However the Romans defence held firm.

Hartley continued to probe and on 77 minutes Cooksley and Nuur combined well with the latter being unlucky to see his shot deflected wide.  With five minutes remaining a Cooksley free kick created a scramble in the City goalmouth which was cleared. Two minutes later the Row made good progress down the left through Akers and Nuur.  The final low cross across the face of the goal eluded everyone.

Having been subdued for most of the second period the Romans almost snatched a late goal. Fletcher got free on the right and his cross was headed over by Luke Spokes. Into added time and Hartley could and probably should have scored. A Cooksley free kick found Yuoel Emmanuel who headed over from close range.

In the first period of extra time, the tempo of the game unsurprisingly slowed down and few chances were created. On 96 minutes a shot from Fletcher took a deflection and went wide.

The game remained very tight with few openings in the second half of the extra time. However, the tie was settled in the 113th minute when Bath were awarded a free kick on the right. The cross from Lines was inch perfect and Fletcher headed  home from eight yards out.  (0-1).

The City were able to run the clock down to book their place in the next round.