CHAMPIONS Hartley Wintney wrapped up their superb Combined Counties League Premier Division campaign, with a 1-1 draw against visiting Walton and Hersham.

It took the Row’s total for the season to 111 points from 44 games thanks to 35 victories, six draws and only three losses.

For the final time this season Hartley were sportingly applauded onto the field as champions, this time by Walton and Hersham.

Walton showed the greater determination during a flat first period and had three noteworthy efforts.

On 23 minutes a long shot from Elliot Simpson had Jake Maddock scrambling across his goal but the effort went wide.

Then on 40 minutes, the Swans had the ball in the net when Jamil Okai converted a good cross from the right by Howard Newton.

However the referee spotted that he had used his hand to force the ball home.

Then a minute later, Elliott Simpson set TJ Nkoma free, but Maddock was quickly out to block the shot.

Hartley’s first glimpse of a goal came on the half time whistle, when Ian Jones found Sam Argent and the striker’s shot went past the post.

During the course of a below par half for the Row they also had the misfortune to lose Shane Hollomby and Louie Paget, both players helped off with nasty looking injuries.

Hartley improved at the start of the second half and on 58 minutes scored a good goal. Sam Argent on the right sent an accurate cross to Jack French.

The midfielder controlled and sent in a fierce shot, which Liam Breach somehow managed to save.

However, his attempted recovery clearance cannoned off the inrushing Adam Liddle and into the net.

Walton came back into the game as the half progressed and equalised on 74 minutes. Good play on the left between Nathan Gordon and Newton saw a cross which found Lee Van Sullivan whose effort hit the post. Sean White following up converted the rebound On 78 minutes, Walton had a good chance to take the lead, when Jamil Okai, who looking well offside, got free, but Maddock denied him in the one-on-one dual.

Hartley responded and almost took the lead on 83 minutes.

A good cross from the right by Dean Stow was headed back across goal by Liddle. Argent tried an audacious and spectacular overhead kick which brought out a good save from goalkeeper Breach.

Two minutes later, a long throw from Marc Vockins was only partly cleared and Stow’s fierce shot was well saved by Breach.

Both sides tried to score a winner in the final minutes with Walton forcing two late corners.

Almost on the final whistle Sam Argent was pulled down in the box, but referee Louis Pinto Nunes waved away his penalty appeals.

So the curtain came down on another great league campaign for Hartley, but they still have a semi-final at Farnham in the Aldershot Senior Cup to look forward to with a date for the game still to be arranged.

After the game, joint manager Danny Brownlie said: “I enjoyed the game and it was probably a fair result. They are the only side we have failed to beat this year.

“We finished the league with the best defensive record and the best attacking record as well as the best discipline record. So for that it has been a tremendous season, but it is not over yet. It would be great to finish the season with a cup final.”