HARTLEY Wintney moved up to ninth place in the Southern League Premier South with solid display against a battling Hendon side who finished the match with just nine players on the pitch.

The Row started well and should have been ahead on three minutes. Marley Ridge sent Mikey Campbell free through the middle.

The striker lost composure and the chance was lost. Hendon responded and a corner on the right from Ryan Hope was partially cleared by Hartley. The ball came to Luke Tingey who saw his powerful effort blocked.

On seven minutes Mitchell Parker set up Sal Abubakar with a chance and the winger seen his effort pushed around the post by Andrew McCorkell in the Hendon goal. The Row remained on top and opened the scoring on 17 minutes.

A free kick on the left from Josh Webb found Mikey Campbell who saw his effort blocked. The ball rebounded to Matt Drage who saw his header hit the crossbar. The ball rebounded to Jack Ball who smashed a shot off the post. The ball rebounded to Mitchell Parker who saw his effort blocked on the line. Parker followed up and became the ‘pinball wizard’ by smashing the ball into the net from 12 yards.

The Dons responded well and on 19 minutes a mishit shot from the right found Charlie Smith whose shot from the edge of the box and brought a good save from well positioned Paul Strudley in the Row goal.

Three minutes later Parker set Abubakar free but the winger shot straight at goalkeeper McCorkell.

On the half hour the home side piled on some pressure and following a corner Smith set up Connor Callcutt who saw his effort blocked.

A pivotal moment in the match came on 34 minutes. From a Hendon corner which was cleared Hartley broke quickly with a long pass.

Mitchell Parker and McCorkell raced for the ball. McCorkell blocked with his legs.

The ball broke to Campbell who had an open goal to shoot at.

However Mc Corkell rushed to his feet and hauled the Row striker down.

Referee Shaun Berry issued a straight inevitable red card.

With no reserve goalie outfield player Lee Chappell donned the goalkeepers jersey.

Hendon seemed to adapt to the man disadvantage well and applied pressure to the Hartley goal.

A corner from the right saw the Row clear to the left where Smith’s high return cross saw Strudley push away at full stretch. A minute later Smith found space and shot just wide of the post. On the stroke of half time Matt Drage set Campbell free but the striker blazed over when well placed.

Hartley started on the front foot and added a second goal on 53 minutes.

Parker played an intelligent ball to Louie Paget who was in full stride on the left wing. The young defender crossed and Mikey Campbell atoned for a few earlier misses by scoring with a fine header

On 58 minutes a free kick on the right by Webb drifted just past the post. A minute later a cross from the right by Parker saw Webb head just wide. On 63 minutes Paget combined with Marley Ridge who shot just past the post.

Play became very disjointed for a period with a number of stoppages. However it was the home side who finished the stronger despite the player disadvantage, A free kick some 25 yards out for the Dons saw Smith’s effort well pushed over by Strudley.

On 81 minutes it was a repeat performance as the Row keeper again tipped over a Smith free kick which has been deflected by the wall.

Play became very scrappy towards the end of the match. However one minute from time Hendon were reduced to nine men.

Substitute Matthew Harriott kicked Matthew Drage in an off the ball incident.

The assistant referee spotted the infringement and Harriott was issued with a straight red card. The Row played out the remaining period and the three points probably mean they are now just one more win away to banish relegation fears.

They are in action on Tuesday night away at King’s Langley

Joint manager Anthony Millerick said: “It is a great result to win at Hendon who are battling to stay up. It is refreshing that we have now kept five clean sheets in our last six matches.

Paul Strudley has come in and has not conceded a goal in the last three matches.

He added: “We probably should have been more clinical with some of the good situations we created.

“Our team are confident at the present time and probably a match for virtually all the teams in this league.”