HARTLEY Wintney celebrated being named Club of the Month for the Southern League Division One, as they returned to winning ways with 3-0 victory at near neighbours Fleet Town to move them up to fourth.

A good crowd of 217 watched Hartley start the better and they quickly laid siege to the Fleet goal. On three minutes a long throw from Steve Noakes was not fully cleared and Jake Baxter set up Ashleigh Artwell. The winger managed to get his shot away but Liam Beach in the home goal pulled off a good save.

On 6 minutes Paul Hodges was fouled on the edge of the Fleet penalty area. Dean Stow’s fierce free kick took a deflection off the wall and went wide. Within the first ten minutes two Fleet players were issued with yellow cards from referee Paul Johnson after robust challenges.

On 16 minutes Ashleigh Artwell went down injured and was replaced by Steven Duff.

Hartley remained on top and Paul Hodges set up Nic Ciardini who fired wide on 23 minutes. Six minutes later the Row were awarded a free kick on the left side of the penalty area and Dean Stow’s effort went just over the crossbar.

Fleet came into the game and should have taken the lead on 31 minutes. A free kick on the right by Danilo Cadete was headed back across goal by Owen Roberts into the path of Graeme Purdy who blazed over from ten yards. Three minutes later the hosts managed to release Toyosi Olusanya and Bradley Wilson through the middle and it took a last ditch tackle from Louie Paget to clear the danger.

On 39 minutes the Row took the lead. A long throw from Steve Noakes on the left caused panic on the Fleet goalmouth. Nic Ciardini saw an effort blocked and the ball fell to Paul Hodges who rifled home from 15 yards.

Steven Duff surged forward down the left on 45 minutes and his well struck shot bought out a good stop from Beach. Fleet almost pulled back level when Danilo Cadete set up Graeme Purdy who shot just past the post.

There was still time for Row to mount one last attack and increase the lead. Nic Ciardini released Steven Duff for a run in on goal and the substitute fired a shot into the corner past Beach Play in the early part of the second half became scrappy not helped by a poor surface and numerous stops in play.On 50 minutes a long throw from Steve Noakes saw a flick on arrive at Jake Baxter and the striker’s shot was expertly saved by Beach.

Five minutes later Tyron Smith and Paul Hodges linked up and the latter’s shot was saved by Beach. On 57 minutes a corner from Olusanya caused difficulties for the Row defence before they were able to clear. Hartley still carried the greater threat going forward and a cross from Stow saw Jake Baxter shoot over.

Fleet pressed forward and had a good spell midway through the half. On 68 minutes a long throw from Wilson enabled a shot from Owen Roberts who saw his effort deflected just past the post. From the resulting corner from Olusanya Chris Wales rose highest and his header went just over the bar.

Two minutes later the Row made the game safe. A free kick in midfield saw Stow and Hodges combine down the right and enable a cross from the former. Nic Ciardini managed to get on the end of it and fired home from close range.

Hartley were content to hold the lead. However it took an amazing save in added time for them to preserve their clean sheet. A long throw from Wilson found Owen Coleman whose well struck shot was pushed around the post by Paul Strudley.

Joint manager Dan Brownlie said: "It was good to see Nic Ciardini get on the score sheet. He had a good game. I thought all three goals had a bit of quality about them.

"The pitch made fluent play very difficult. We knew that we would be up against a spirited Fleet Town side, this being a local derby."

Anthony Millerick added: "Fleet were always going to make it hard for us and we knew we had to start well. I felt we controlled most of the game and created the better chances.

"Derby games can sometimes be unpredictable. I thought the defence played well tonight."

Hartley are away at play-off rivals Moneyfields on Saturday.