Two big results move Hartley Wintney up the table (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Two big results move Hartley Wintney up the table

8:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport

DELIGHTED Hartley Wintney manager Ben Dillon is convinced his side can beat the drop after climbing out of the bottom three with stunning back-to-back wins against top-six opposition.

Dillon’s men had seen their Combined Counties Premier Division survival hopes take a blow after single goal defeats against both Raynes Park Vale and Farnham Town last week.

However, they responded in style as goals from Ryan Stephens, Shane Hollamby, Zac Reynolds, Craig Barker, Ben Nicholls and Dan Brownlee saw them record a brilliant 6-2 win away from home to sixth-placed South Park last Thursday.

Dillon’s side then followed up that shock result with an emphatic 4-2 win over title-chasing Epsom & Ewell on Saturday.

They took the lead through a fourth minute Stephens effort and despite their high-flying opponents levelling matters, second-half goals from Hollamby Max Elwood and Dillon himself saw them climb out of the bottom three.

“It has been a long time coming and I am delighted for the players,” Dillon said. “We have been working hard since the Christmas period and it has finally paid off.”

“We were not really expecting to get anything from the two games, so to come away with six points and score 10 goals in the process is an incredible achievement.

“Everyone at the club is buzzing at the moment and we all believe that we are good enough to stay out of the bottom three.”

They were unable to make it three wins on the bounce as they slipped to defeat against league leaders Egham Town on Tuesday night. Dillon’s men led 1-0 at the break through a Reynolds goal, but the visitors eventually ran out 3-1 winners.