ONLY a week ago Hartley Wintney were in the Southern League Premier South drop zone, but two wins in the space of four days has catapulted them up to 14th spot.

The Row also still have a game in hand on most of the teams around them.

They can further move up the table this weekend, when they face a visit from bottom side Staines.

The Surrey outfit have not won since November and shipped 25 goals in four games during February, but Hartley will treat them with respect and look to build on an excellent 3-0 win over Wimborne on Tuesday night.

Hartley delivered one of their best performances of the season in defeating a very capable Wimborne Town side full of confidence following a league run of seven unbeaten in which they had picked up five wins, writes KEVIN O'BYRNE.

The home side started the game brightly and did not appear to be carrying any of the weight that a relegation battle often places on players, perhaps motivated by the crucial weekend win against Tiverton Town.

There was also the welcome return of Jack Ball to the defence, at last able to line-up alongside new centre-back partner, Matt Drage.

It was to be a strong defensive showing leading to an excellent clean sheet.

But it was up front that the Row showed much more endeavour than on Saturday, with wide players Steve Duff and Salhin Abubakar immediately taking the game to the visitors, and strikers Michael Campbell and Mitchell Parker working very hard.

After a sustained period of early pressure, it was Mikey Campbell who opened the score on 13 minutes with a superb turn and strike from 20 yards, giving goalkeeper Gerrard Benfield no chance as it arrowed into the top corner.

Hartley continued to pile on the pressure, and on 22 minutes Steve Duff nearly added a second at the back post, denied by some last ditch defending.

Wimborne then came into the game, showing the kind of neat play that has earned them their comfortable 10th place in the league, Adam Desbois in the Row goal making a good low stop to deny them an equaliser. But it was Steve Duff, back in his familiar left-wing role, who added the second.

With 32 minutes on the clock, Duff collected the ball midway into the Wimborne half and almost central, surging forward in the trademark style that earned him the nickname of 'The Train', before unleashing a fierce, low drive that beat Benfield for pace just inside his right-hand post.

It was a lead that didn't flatter the hosts one bit, and while Wimborne continued to show good quality on the ball, the home defence was giving little away.

On 38 minutes, Matt Drage headed narrowly wide for the Row, and then the hugely impressive Mitch Parker forced Benfield into a fine save.

If the home support were feeling any jitters on whether their team would pick up the second half from where they had left off, or Wimborne would get themselves back in it, they needn't have worried.

The visitors continued to play some good football at times, the Row were straight out of the blocks and very much in the groove.

The home side drew the sting out of the visitors' attacking players and continued to create more opportunities, with Parker, Campbell and midfielders Josh Webb and Marley Ridge putting in performances of great stamina.

Man of the match Mitchell Parker's superb workrate when the visitors had possession led to the goal that effectively sealed the game just before the hour mark.

As a Hartley attack broke down deep in the Wimborne half, Duff and Parker worked to put pressure on the visiting defenders.

As Magpies centre-back, Matty Oldring, took a moment to find a pass, Parker nicked the ball off him and it was played out wide to Salhin Abubakar.

The young winger did well and his delivery into the box was only pawed away by Benfield in the Wimborne goal. There was a scramble in the area and Parker was on hand to finish from close range, getting reward he richly deserved for his night's work.

From that point Wimborne seemed to lose some focus, with passes going astray, while Hartley continued to apply pressure.

Big appeals for a Hartley penalty were denied on 73 minutes when Abubakar appeared to be clearly brought down, and four minutes later Marley Ridge fired over a great opportunity from the edge of the box after being set-up by the trickery of Parker.

In fairness to Ridge, who had a superb game in central midfield where he covered every blade of grass, it was the only thing he got wrong all game.

Approaching the last 10 minutes, Hartley began to see the game out, defensive midfielder Tyrone Newton coming on for the lively Abubakar, and Jack French replacing busy striker, Mikey Campbell.

French nearly made it four, and man of the match contender, Parker, once more twisted the Wimborne defence in knots before being substituted late on, and to great applause, by Nic Ciardini.

While the three points will be seen as the most valuable thing to come from the game, as it was in a solid but less impressive display at the weekend, the manner in which the Row played the game and the confidence they showed should stand them in great stead for the run-in to the end of the season.

There was more good news following the win when it was announced that the loan of midfielder Marley Ridge loan spell is being extended until the end of the season.

It's hugely significant at such an important time in the season and the club are keen to put on record their thanks to Havant and Waterlooville and their manager, Lee Bradbury, for their help in securing the loan extension.