HARTLEY Wintney suffered another defeat at home as they went down 3-1 to visiting Westfield in the Combined Counties League Premier Division on Saturday.

The home side were minus injured Ross Cook, but welcomed back Max Elward and Jack Green into their line-up and started the better in the first 45 minutes.

Luke Walker hit the post in the opening minute after a cross by Elliot Hobden, but with the home side playing a more defensive game after shipping three early goals the week before they found it hard to carve out any chances as lone striker Sam Argent was isolated.

The very lively Matt Jackson caused Hartley problems all afternoon and he forced Craig Atkinson into an excellent save with his legs after 20 minutes.

Then in the final minute of the half the same player’s shot cum cross hit the post as it remained 0-0.

Hartley changed their formation to a 4-4-2 after the break and they started the better team, but were undone by a defence splitting pass which allowed Jackson to run through and score after 51 minutes.

The home side hit back as Jack Green shot from the left hit Westfield captain Matthew Steer and fell kindly for Argent to hammer home.

The introduction of Hartley sub Taylor Watts certainly ruffled the visiting defence, and from one of his crosses Jamie Daltrey headed onto the bar.

The whole game was then turned on its head after 76 minutes, as Jackson outside the area had a shot which was way off target, until it hit the knee of Hartley defender Ali Brown which sent the ball the other way and it hit the post and beat the desperate attempt by Craig Atkinson to keep it out.

This seem to knock the snuffing out of the home side and Westfield netted a third on the 87 minute mark when a rare error from Atkinson saw him drop a shot from James Mepham, which left Jackson with a simple tap-in to make it 3-1.

After the game, Hartley manager Ben Dillon said: “I think they are the worst three goals we have conceded this season. We gave them the first goal, the own goal was really unlucky and Craig (Atkinson) has dropped the ball for their last goal.

“It is a rare mistake from him and I am not going to dwell on it as he is one of the best ’keepers in this league. “After conceding three early goals last week we played defensive to start with and then I changed it to 4-4-2 in the second-half and felt we played a lot better, but it was not to be our day." Hartley will hope for better luck on Monday when they travel to Knaphill (kick-off 11.30am).