DEFENDING champions Hartley Wintney moved four points clear at the top of the Combined Counties League after a 6-2 win over visiting AFC Hayes.

Play was very open from the first whistle with both sides attacking at every opportunity.

After just two minutes Hayes' impressive 16-year-old left back Harry Bishop created a chance but his shot narrowly over.

A minute later, Ross Cook hit the crossbar after receiving a good pass from Steven Duff.

On nine minutes Hartley opened the scoring. Good interplay between Cook and Sam Argent set up the latter who ran through and scored from 12 yards.

Two minutes later, Hayes came close when Gary James created a chance coming in from the left. His fierce shot saw Craig Bradshaw turn the ball over at full stretch.

A minute later, Duff sent in a good low cross from the left and Argent just failed to find the net.

However, the striker was not to be denied on 26 minutes. An accurate cross from Dean Stow saw Argent head home from close range.

Four minutes later the visitors reduced the arrears with a good goal James created space and sent Bishop free down the left wing. The youngsters accurate cross was fired home by Bradley Hand from 12 yards out.

Approaching half time Ross Cook was unlucky to see a shot go just wide.

Hartley started the second half strongly and on 55 minutes a long throw from the right saw a Liam Eagle flick on and Argent fired just over.

Four minutes later, Argent shot over when well placed after a good run by Duff.

The pressure continued to build on the visitors goal and goalkeeper Cameron Kennedy did well to parry a strong shot from Duff on 65 minutes.

The Row finally got their reward two minutes later, Stow created space on the right and his accurate cross was headed home by Cook.

Five minutes later, Stow set another chance up from the right wing and Argent fired narrowly past the post.

On 72 minutes, Hartley added a fourth. Cook had a good run down the right wing and his cut back from the goal line was converted by Stow from 15 yards.

Soon after, Stow was unlucky not to add another when coming in from the left his lobbed shot hit the crossbar. From a long throw on the right in the 83rd minute the referee spotted a hand ball in the Hayes penalty box. Cook took the penalty and scored easily to make it 5-1.

Argent was very unlucky on 86 minutes when his shot from a Zac Horkan cross went just past the post.

Two minutes later, Argent played Steven Duff in with an intelligent lay off and the winger scored with a strong shot for Hartley's sixth.

In the last minute Gary James went on a long run through the Hartley defence before being upended just outside the penalty area.

Jordan Berry managed to beat the wall with his shot; which hit the underside of the crossbar. The ball rebounded down and hit the unfortunate Craig Bradshaw and went into the net to complete the 6-2 scoreline.

Joint manager Danny Brownlie said: "It was a very good win, a good nights work in the end. In the second half we felt very comfortable, but for the first 45 minutes it was a relatively balanced game with both teams committing bodies forward.

"We switched off a couple of times which we can't afford to do again, but credit to the boys, they really turned it on in the second half.

"We scored some really well worked goals. Saturday is going to be a tough test at home to Knaphill arguably gave us our two toughest tests lasts year, we can arrive with confidence but they'll certainly be no complacency."