Hartley Wintney sailed into the Hampshire Senior Cup quarter final after a win over the Royal Navy by 3-2. Both sides struggled on the heavy pitch and fluent play was not always evident.

The Navy started at full steam ahead and on two minutes a long run down the left wing by Danny Earl left Row defenders in his slipstream. However Luke Williams in the Hartley goal came out quickly and blocked the parting shot. Two minutes later Earl lined up another shot which went over the crossbar.

The Row responded and Reece Wylie found space to deliver an accurate cross which Sam Argent headed over. The Navy soon had the wind in their sails again and came close on 22 minutes. Earl made space to give Stuart Morgan a clear shot and the strikers shot crashed off the crossbar. A minute later the Royal Navy took the lead. Elliot Holmes passed a corner on the right to Danny Earl who fired a Cannonball shot into the Row net from 20 yards. (0-1)

Hartley responded by delivering a broadside to the Navy goal. On 25 minutes a Josh Webb free kick on the right found Harry Taylor who saw his header hit the crossbar. The pressure continued and a minute later the equaliser arrived. Aaron Goode managed to force the ball through to Sam Argent after a goalmouth scramble and the striker scored from close range. (1-1)

It became all hands to the pumps for the Navy as the Row pressed. On 33 minutes Jordan Edwards set up Argent who fired just over the crossbar. Six minutes later Edwards set up Wylie who brought out a good save from Laurence McCormick in the Navy goal. However the pressure finally told and the Navy shipped a second goal. A Josh Webb corner found it way to Aaron Goode who scored from close range. (2-1)

Hartley introduced Lucien Vine (son of well-known local footballer Rowan Vine) into the attack for the second half. The young striker had an early chance on 52 minutes when set up by Dan Fitchett but his parting shot went over the crossbar.

On 58 minutes a long ball from the Navy defence found Earl setting fair for the Row goal. His low shot was diverted wide by Williams. A good spell of pressure from the Navy ended with Williams pulling off a save from an effort by David Parker. The Row decided to put all hands on deck to hoist up the main sail and on 64 minutes Wylie gave Webb a chance which the midfielder fired wide.

However Hartley were to get the third goal a minute later. Edwards found Fitchett who worked space for a shot. His effort was blocked but fell to Aaron Goode who shot home from 12 yards. (3-1)

Reece Wylie created an opening for Vine who saw his effort saved by McCormick. The Row had two further chances in the last few minutes. Firstly Kofi Halliday got beyond the Navy defence but was unable to score. Toby Raggett then left the Navy defence all at sea with his pace but McCormick came out to save.

In the first minute of added time the Royal Navy had a spell of pressure which earned them a second goal. A crisp move allowed Thomas Parry space on the right and his precise cross was headed in at the back post by Danny Kerr. (3-2)

Almost immediately the Row defence were struggling to stay afloat in withstanding a final broadside from a useful Royal Navy team. Hartley finally berthed with a place in the next round of the Hampshire Cup.