HARTLEY Wintney kept their chances of a quick return back to Southern League Division One alive by beating visiting promotion rivals Calmore Sports by 79 runs last Saturday.

They now need to win their final game away at bottom side Totton and Eling II and hope Sparsholt, who sit second, lose to relegation-threatened Langley Manor.

The village side will take heart from last weekend’s game, which saw Langley score 484-5 as they crushed Totton by 296 runs.

Hartley were also in the runs themselves as they completed the double over fourth-placed Calmore Sports with a 79-run victory.

Ari Karvelas was the star, with a superb 148 off 87 balls, which included 13 fours and nine sixes – his best score of the summer.

He shared a century fourth-wicket stand with Will Ross (31) as the home side posted 305-9 from their 50 overs.

Calmore were in trouble early on as Chris Jolley (4-24) removed most of the top order and they fell to 57-4.

Matt Taylor (111 not out) staged a fightback, but the visitors were bowled out for 226 as Mark Teale (2-31) and Karvelas (2-40) got amongst the tail.

Hartley skipper Jamie Teale and Louis Lych return to the line-up for the trip to Totton, but the village side will be without experienced all-rounder Matt Digweed and high-scoring opening bat Jack Hersh.

Teale, talking a few weeks ago, said he believed the promotion race would go all the way to the final weekend, and he has been proved right.

He said: “It all comes down to this weekend. We have to make sure we get the win and do not take Totton for granted, even though they are bottom.

“Sparsholt have lost their last two and Langley have won two of their last three, so we have some hope.”

Teale added: “Having been relegated last season and losing players, it is great to be in this position and I hope we can complete the job.”