HARTLEY Wintney visited the ‘Ranch’ at Haworth hoping to lasso three points to enable them to remain top of the Combined Counties League Premier Division.

In the end, the visitors had to settle for a 0-0 draw, but it was enough to keep them at the head of the table Hartley started well and had the first chance on five minutes when Dean Stow played in Sam Argent.

The striker's shot was saved at point blank range by Hadley Witney in the Villains goal.

The Row continued to press and the home side were forced to ‘circle the wagons’ around the goal.

On nine minutes Ross Cook managed to get on the end of a Steven Duff free kick and forced Hadley Witney into another save.

Midway through the first half Hartley pressed strongly and caused a number of ‘blazing saddles’ moments for the Villains defence.

First a good move involving Steve Laidler, Argent and Cook saw the latter forced Witney to dive and push the shot around the post. Then a Duff corner saw Liam Eagle's header cleared off the line.

Hanworth had their first chance on 33 minutes, when Steve Loveridge made good progress down the right wing. His accurate cross found Levi King whose first time shot was parried by Craig Bradshaw. From the rebound King fired over from a bad angle.

On 41 minutes good interplay between Argent and Cook saw the latter shoot just past the post.

Five minutes after the break, Cook set up Duff but the winger's shot went just over the bar.

Hartley had the ball in the net on 62 minutes. Argent played a ball past the Villains' defence and ran after it. Cook was in an offside position but did not interfere with play.

Unfortunately the assistant referee flagged. Argent chased the ball through and scored with a good shot. The referee disallowed the goal for offside much to the disbelief of the visitors. Despite protests the decision stood.

Hanworth had a good spell of pressure midway through the half and forced two corners.

However, Bradshaw was not called into action and soon Hartley were back on the offensive.

On 88 minutes a Stow corner was headed past the post by Eagle.

Then in added time, Everiss shot past when well placed after good work by Cook. Hartley rode into the sunset having rounded up one point from the Ranch visit.

Joint manager Danny Brownlie said: "It was a frustrating afternoon to say the least, we created an abundance of chances in both halves but just couldn't find the breakthrough.

"Yes we had, what was in our eyes, a good goal disallowed, but that happens in football, we had so many other chances to secure the win, so that moment can't be the defining point.

He added: "I can't fault the boys for lack of effort it just wasn't our day in front of goal. We had scored 15 goals in our last three games before that match, just one of those days!"

Tomorrow the Row are at home when AFC Hayes are the visitors in another league encounter.