HARTLEY Wintney made it three wins out of three in 2018, after overcoming a turbulent first half when they twice trailed.

The game started in scrappy fashion with the only effort a speculative long shot from Harvey Killeen which was easily stopped by Paul Strudley in the Hartley goal.

The Row were looking very lethargic in the early play and were punished on 16 minutes.

Very loose play on the right side of defence saw Killeen gain possession and run in on goal. The striker rounded Strudley and shot home past back tracking Hartley defenders.

On 22 minutes the Row registered their first effort when Liam Eagle soared highest to an Adam Everiss corner but seen his effort go wide. Six minutes later, Hartley pulled level. James Tennant and Paul Hodges presented a chance to Adam Everiss who saw his effort saved.

From the resulting corner Dean Stow saw his header saved by keeper Sam Bunting. However Rowan Vine following up scored from close range.

However, the Row were behind again on 29 minutes when a series of passes by Hanwell down the middle saw a fortunate defection from a defender into the path of Killeen who fired home and unstoppable shot from 20 yards.

On 43 minutes, the Row pulled level with a moment of controversy. Adam Everiss and Paul Hodges combined well down the middle and the latter’s shot hit the crossbar and crashed down.

Both sides looked to the assistant referee on the line who had immediately awarded a goal.

The home support which included local MP Steven Pound were unhappy and the home players surrounded the referee and his assistant. After a delay the goal stood. (2-2).

On the stroke of half time Hodges and Vine combined well and the former brought out a good save from Bunting.

It appeared that the Row had received a pep talk at half time as they resumed with much more purpose.

This in turn saw an amazing exhibition of goalkeeping from Bunting with a string of outstanding saves.

On 49 minutes a long throw from Adam Everiss found Hodges who seen his fierce shot saved by Bunting.

A minute later an almighty scramble in front of the home goal saw a fierce shot from Steven Duff saved by Bunting.

On 55 minutes the overworked goalie Bunting again saved well from a Rowan Vine shot.

The returning Jake Baxter came on as sub and the onslaught towards Hanwell’s goal continued.

On 59 minutes Bunting again made a good save this time from Dean Stow, On 65 minutes Bunting saved a one on one with Jake Baxter after the striker was released by a Paul Hodges pass.

In a rare home attack Glen Yala created a chance for himself coming in from the left and his low shot brought a good save from Strudley.

The bombardment of the home goal resumed and on 70 minutes an Everiss cross saw a Liam Eagle saved and the follow ups were blocked.

The home side had a shout for a penalty on 72 minutes as Ned Clarke went down in the area but the claim was waived aside by well positioned referee Michael Chard.

Two minutes later, the home sides heroic defending was finally breached when a cross from Hodges saw a Vine header well parried by Bunting, but Liam Eagle following up blasted home from close range.

The home side responded and on 80 minutes a good run from Killeen set up a chance for Clarke who saw his effort saved by Paul Strudley.

Two minutes later, the Row clinched the game with a fourth goal. A clever reverse pass from Hodges set Baxter free with a run in on goal and the striker made not mistake with a low shot.

Three minutes later Steve Duff tried his luck with a shot from the left and the effort went narrowly past the post.

On 86 minutes good link up play between Baxter and Hodges set up Jack French who fired wide of the goal.

It was the home side who had the last effort of the match in added time when Clarke managed to get on the end of a knock down but on the stretch fired over.

Hartley joint manager Dan Brownlie said: “I thought we were sluggish in the first half. We were pleased to get in at half time level.

“We played with more energy in the second half and that in turn brought quality and ultimately the result.

“It was good news to get Jake Baxter back on Friday and he took his goal well. We are optimistic of further additions to our squad in the very near future.”

Fellow joint boss Anthony Millerick added: “On Tuesday we have a good home fixture against Ashford Town which we are looking forward to. They play good football and our matches with them are usually very close.

“Finally a thank you to the Hartley supporters who came along. It great to see so many people wearing orange at the matches nowadays.