HARTLEY Wintney maintained their 12 point lead at the top of the Combined Counties League Premier Division following an eventful 3-1 home win over a strong Epsom and Ewell side.

It was the visitors who had the first shot on target after 12 minutes.

Robert Hendrey created space on the edge of the Row box and his effort brought a comfortable save from goalkeeper Paul Strudley.

The Salts continued to probe and on 15 minutes took the lead. A good move down the left saw a cross to Matt Farrell whose shot took a deflection and went into the net.

Hartley’s response came a minute later with a run and cross from Steven Duff into the centre.

A clever flick from Shane Hollomby allowed Sam Argent a shot which brought a good save with his foot by Michael Eacott in the Epsom goal.

The visitors had a chance on 20 minutes after good play down the right between Matt Fernando and Jordan Gallagher. The cross from the latter headed over by striker Robert Hendrey.

The Row applied pressure and good set up play from Jack French allowed a shot from Hollomby which brought a spectacular save from Eacott in the visitors goal diving to his left.

A pivotal moment in the match arrived on 25 minutes. Salts full back Matt Tanton mis-timed a tackle.

Referee Andrew Bennett produced a yellow card after speaking to his assistant and being Tanton’s second yellow, he received a further red card and left the Salts with 10 men.

From the resultant free kick it was ‘boom time 1’ .

Steven ‘Cannonball’ Duff thundered the free kick into the net from 25 yards with Eacott helpless in goal.

Despite the man disadvantage it was Epsom who provided the next shot when Hendrey fashioned a chance but his shot brought a comfortable save from Strudley.

Hendrey was again out of luck on the stroke of half time. A free-kick into the Hartley box was only partially cleared. The ball fell to Hendrey whose shot from 18 yards crashed off the left hand post with Strudley beaten Hartley wasted no time in trying to make the extra man count and on 48 minutes took the lead with ‘boom tine 2’.

Another Steven ‘Cannonball’ Duff shot from 30 yards crashed into the top of the net with keeper Eacott unable to get near to the ball.

On 59 minutes the Row made the points safe. Steve Noakes sent an accurate cross in from the left which saw Argent head home from 15 yards.

The Salts looked dangerous on a break and on 66 minutes Ali Dewar made space on the left His pass found Hendrey in the box.

The strikers shot brought out a good save from Paul Strudley.

At the other end Hartley were claiming a penalty when Argent got on the end of a good pass from Adam New.

Before the striker could shoot he appeared to be fouled. However referee Bennett waved away the appeals.

A minute later clever play from Argent set up Dean Stow but the substitutes shot went just past the post.

On 82 minutes Ian Jones tried his luck from 25 yards and his shot brought a good save from Eacott.

The keeper was again called into action in the last minute when he saved a free kick from Stow.

A good match memorable for two spectacular free kicks.

After the game joint manager Danny Brownlie said: "It was a good all round performance from the boys combined with some very good individual displays.

"Their sending off changed the complexion of the game quite dramatically but as we mentioned at half time it can be difficult against 10 men, it has a habit of making the rest work harder, and in turn, difficult to breakdown. Our game management was as pleasing as the resulting scoreline.

He added : "We scored some lovely goals, Duffers' free kick was tremendous, a proper strike, along with Argent's header into the top corner. It could and probably should have been more. That said, Struds made a very important save at a important moment in the game."

Next for Hartley is an away trip to Knaphill on Saturday.

In other news, the Row are at home to AFC Totton in the last eight of the Hampshire Senior Cup. The game will be played on Tuesday January 17.

Talking about this Brownlie said: "We are looking forward to adopting the underdog label against Totton in the cup.

"It should make for another good occasion, we have a good recent history of beating higher level teams and that's something we'll be looking to do the same again.

"The pressure will lie solely with them, it's a game they'll be expecting to win but we'll be doing all we can to cause an upset."