Dorchester Town maintained their promotion aspirations with a hard-fought win over battling Hartley Wintney.

Dorch started brightly and on two minutes a long free kick into the Hartley area found Kieran Douglas who brought out an easy save from the Rows debutant goalkeeper Seb Osment. 

The visitors continued to set the pace and on seven minutes came close. A corner on the right from Charlie Gunson came to Keith Emmerson on the edge of the penalty and his shot was blocked into the path of the incoming Gunson. The winger’s shot went across the face of the goal and just wide of the far post.

The Row came into the match and had their first effort on 10 minutes. A decent build-up down the left gave Jake Rumble a chance and the full backs shot was parried away by Dorch’s keeper Ryan Hall. The Row continued to press and a left-wing corner from Anis Nuur found Matt Drage who shot over the crossbar.

On the quarter hour, the Magpies took the lead. A high ball into the Hartley penalty area found Harvey Bradbury who teed up Charlie Gunson who shot home at the second attempt from 10 yards.  (0-1)

Hartley responded well and good promptings in midfield from Anis Nuur and impressive debutant George Winser gave them an edge.  On 19 minutes the Row pulled level with a well-worked goal. A good interplay in midfield saw a switch to debutant Archy Taylor on the right who played in Winser down the right. The cut-back was perfect and Shamar Moore scored from close range. (1-1)

Dorchester regained the lead on 25 minutes. A corner on the right from Gunson found an unmarked Alfie Stanley who shot home from 15 yards. (1-2)

Hartley had an edge in play and came close on 36 minutes with an incisive move through midfield. Anis Nuur played in Reese Jones who saw his effort saved by Hall.

The Row started the second half strongly and on 49 minutes a right-wing move led to a Taylor cross. Jones rose high and was unlucky to see his header hit the top of the crossbar and come out. Against the general run of play, Dorch increased the lead on 58 minutes. A corner on the right from Gunson saw a flick on and Callum Buckley was free at the back post to shoot home (1-3).

Three minutes later and Hartley had closed the gap. Zidan Akers' cross was not fully cleared and George Winser following up fired home from the 18-yard line. (2-3)

Following an altercation with the referee Dorchester manager Glenn Howes was issued with a red card and told to leave the dugout.

Dorchester came close on 75 minutes Bradbury made good ground before setting up Matt Neale who saw his effort saved by Osment.  However, two minutes later the Magpies put the game out of Hartley’s reach. A free kick on the right from Gunson eluded everyone but the Row’s Reese Jones was unfortunate to see his attempted clearance go into the net for an own goal. (2-4)

Hartley exerted pressure to play decent football in difficult conditions and a number of efforts were blocked by the Magpies' defence. It was Dorch who almost had the last say when a long run from his own half by Gunson saw his final parting shot go just wide.

For Hartley a vastly improving showing from the previous match at Bracknell. However, frailties defending set pieces appear to be the team's Achilles heel at this present moment in time.