HARTLEY Wintney narrowly lost 2-1 to visiting second placed Cambridge City, in a match between two sides in the top four of Southern League Division One East.

The opening period of the match was extremely cagey and no chances were recorded in the first 20 minutes.

Hartley were finding difficulty finding a way past the two giant and experienced City centre backs. However on 21 minutes good play between Jake Baxter and Jack French set up a chance from the latter. The parting shot brought a good save from Niall Conroy in the City goal.

Two minutes later the visitors took the lead. A corner on the right saw a clear handball at high level by a Row defender. Tom Knowles took the spot kick and scored with a low shot into the corner. Hartley responded and on 28 minutes a shot from distance from Jack French saw Conroy well positioned to save.

The Row had a good spell and put the City defence under pressure, but without creating a clear chance.

However, Hartley’s efforts were rewarded two minutes before half time.

A free kick from midfield by Josh Webb was not properly cleared by the City defence.

The ball fell to Rowan Vine on the edge of the box and he saw his volley deflected into the top corner off a Cambridge defender.

Four minutes after the break, a long throw from Adam Everiss was flicked on by Liam Eagle and Jake Baxter saw his effort saved by Conroy.

Ben Robinson found space for a cross on the right for City and his in swinging ball was missed by Lewis Wilson and Paul Strudley dived to push the ball around the post.

City kept up the pressure and took the lead on 54 minutes. A right wing corner from Tom Knowles found Mason Spence and he sent his header into the net.

Five minutes later, Rowan Vine did well to win a tackle midway in the City half and saw his low shot went just past the post.

On 65 minutes a spell of pressure by City saw an effort from Salim Relizani take a deflection and the Row were relieved to see Liam Eagle head the ball out.

With Hartley pushing forward gaps appeared in their defence and a personal dual started between City striker Lewis Wilson and the Row keeper Paul Strudley.

On 75 minutes Relizani set up Wilson who was thwarted by a good stop from Strudley.

Five minutes later, Steve Noakes lost his footing and Wilson in the clear but the striker shot wide. On 84 minutes Relizani set up Knowles who saw his powerful effort saved well by Strudley. Moving into added time Hartley put in a rousing finish.

Good play down the right created chance for Jake Baxter and James Tennant in front of the visitors goal but somehow goalkeeper Conroy and his defenders somehow kept the ball out. From the resultant corner another amazing scramble ensued and somehow City survived a session of pinball.

Overall City probably just deserved the spoils for a strong second half performance cemented by a resolute experienced defence.

Hartley will hope to bounce back to winning ways on Wednesday night, when they travel to Aylesbury.

Meanwhile, tomorrow the FA decide on what happens to the game to decide the Row’s opponents in the FA Trophy.

The game last Tuesday was abandoned after some of the Farnborough players failed to make it to Banbury. Hartley are due to travel to the winners of this game on Saturday.