HARTLEY Wintney travelled to Southern League Premier South table toppers Weymouth and returned home with a point.

However, the Row will reflect that it could have been so much better.

They were 2-0 up until the 79th minute before the Terra’s scored two late goals to ensure parity.

The Terra’s held a slight edge in the first half hour but were unable to create a clear cut chance.

Their best efforts were a shot on seven minutes from Brandon Goodship which found Row goalkeeper Paul Strudley well placed.

The other chance of note came on 21 minutes when a Ben Thompson cross from the right was headed over by Goodship.

The Row had a good spell around the half hour mark and created chances.

On 28 minutes, the best move of the match saw excellent passing involving Louie Paget, Nic Cardini allowed Jack French to feed in Mikey Campbell for a one on one.

However, the striker rushed his shot which went well wide.

Hartley continued to probe and a Nathan Smart cross from the right found the head of Nic Ciardini who directed his effort wide on 38 minutes.

Two minutes later Ty Smith set loose Louie Paget on the overlap and the full backs shot brought out an excellent save from Jordan Seabright in the Terra’s goal.

However, it delayed the Hartley opening goal by a further minute.

On 41 minutes, Nathan Smart made good progress coming in from the right and his effort was blocked.

The ball fell into the path of Jacques Kpohomouth who fired home from close range from a difficult angle.

The Terra’s responded and Ben Thompson forced his was past Strudley, but covering Row defenders crowded him out.

Weymouth had the bulk of the play in the second half but a well organised Row defence ensured Strudley had no saves to make.

On 56 minutes Josh Wakefield had a powerful effort from the edge of the box which the Row defence did well to block.

Row came into the game and on 73 minutes good interplay between Claudio Herbert and Mikey Campbell saw a last ditch tackle force the ball just past the post.

A rare mix up in the Row defence a minute later gave Goodship a chance but he fired wide.

Hartley resumed on the attack and scored a good goal on 76 minutes.

Louie Paget fed Jack French who sent Mikey Campbell free down the middle.

This time the striker forced the ball past the outrushing Seabright.

Three minutes later the Terra’s earned themselves a lifeline.

A long throw from Antonio Diaz was forced through the Row defence and Staphane Zudar scored from close range.

Hartley responded and good play down the right saw Jack French set up Kpohomouth who fired over on the edge of the box on 83 minutes.

On 87 minutes Warren Bentley created a chance but his effort was well saved but a well positioned Strudley.

However, the Terra’s were not to be denied and in added time after pressure Goodship set up Warren Bentley who fired home from close range for the equaliser.

A tough one to take for Hartley but over the piece a draw was probably a fair result.

The entire Row team did the club proud and for periods played some good football. Weymouth are a good side and one imagines they will be around at the business end of the league campaign.

After the game joint manager Anthony Millerick said: “At the end it was a strange feeling. We had to settle for a draw when a win was on the cards.

“To come to Weymouth and get a draw with the league leaders is a good result.”

He added: “We were disappointed with the first goal we conceded. I felt we could and should have defended the long throw better.

“After their first goal we came under sustained pressure for the only real period in the match. “We anticipated that would happen at some stage as the Terra are a good side.

“All things considered I felt the players done well and were not overawed by the big crowd.”

Next for Hartley is an away trip to Staines on Saturday.