HARTLEY Wintney made it four points from their first two games of 2020 as they drew 2-2 with visiting Wimborne after winning 1-0 at Gosport Borough on New Year’s Day.

Saturday’s contest against Wimborne was an entertaining match with the Row coming back from a two goal deficit at half time.

The Row held an edge in the opening play and on 13 minutes a corner from Ty Smith saw Alex.Albert head just wide.

The Magpies went ahead on 16 minutes when Tony James-Lee got behind the Hartley defence with the Row defenders claiming offside. Lee’s initial shot was blocked by Hartley goalkeeper Luke Williams but the ball rebounded to Antonio Diaz who delayed his shot. Williams got back to block but after a scramble Luke Burbridge scored from close range.

Five minutes later Hartley put together a good move which ended with a Dean Rule cross being headed over the bar by Steven Duff. On 26 minutes Duff and the impressive Reece Wylie combined well and Duff’s parting shot was too high.

Hartley continued to hold an edge but were undone on 28 minutes when Burbridge and Lee combined to give the latter a chance. Williams came out and collided with Lee and a penalty was awarded. This award did look harsh. Lee converted the spot kick with confidence

Hartley pressed towards half time and on 34 minutes a Ty Smith corner found the head of Adam Cornell who saw his effort deflected wide. Three minutes before the break a flowing move involving Aaron Kuhl and Dean Rule gave a chance to Smith who saw his effort saved by Magpies keeper Cameron Plain.

The Row started the half on the front foot and reduced the arrears on 50 minutes. A corner from Ty Smith saw a header from Adam Cornell saved by Cameron Plain in the Wimborne goal. The ball ran loose and Dean Rule fired home from a tight angle.

Three minutes later the teams were level. Smith and Rule combined well down the right and the latter’s cross was hooked home by Reece Miller .

On 62 minutes a Smith corner found the head of Joe Gater who nodded over.

Wimborne came close on 73 minutes when a cross from Burbridge saw a last ditch clearance from the Row defence.

There followed a series of long lofted passes by the Magpies over the Hartley defence which saw Luke Williams forced to run from his line to clear.

On 79 minutes Louie Paget delivered a good cross from the left which saw an Adam Cornell header tipped over by Plain. This was quickly followed by a Dean Rule cross which ended with Cornell heading just wide.

Hartley looked vulnerable to balls over the defence and leading to very marginal offside calls.

The Magpies had a chance on 82 minutes when another long ball found Lee who lobbed over the bar. Into added time and Luke Williams maintained the Row point with a spectacular save following some decent build up play by the visitors.

After the game Anthony Millerick said: “Wimborne came with a very effective game plan. Our defending could have been better at times.

“The changes at half time were effective and we could have gone on to win the match. Reece Wylie and Luke Williams both had good games with Reece looking a real prospect. All in all happy to get a point after trailing by two goals at the interval.”

On New Year’s Day at Gosport the Hampshire derby ended with Hartley Wintney travelling north with all three points.

The Row were forced to make a number of changes with many of the regular squad missing.

This included three central defenders Jack Ball, Shane Hollamby and Alex Albert.

Hartley started well with Dean Rule looking lively down the right wing.

On five minutes Rule centred to Joe Grant who laid the ball back to Aaron Kuhl who saw his low shot from the edge of the box go just past the post.

However a minute later Hartley took the lead. Rule combined well with Grant and his cross found Steven Duff at the back post. The winger showed composure in laying the ball back to Joe Grant who fired home from close range.

The match quickly became a midfield tussle with neither side being able to make much impression on the opposition defence.

The Row had a chance on 32 minutes following a foul on Grant just outside the penalty area. Tom Bird’s low shot beat the wall but Boro keeper Benjamin Dudzinski was well positioned to bring off a good save.

Gosport rarely threatened but Liam Robinson did have the ball in the net The effort was ruled out for offside. In added time Adam Cornell and Rule combined well and the latter saw his effort go well wide.

Gosport started brightly and on 50 minutes had their first chance. A long free kick was not fully cleared by the Row defence. The ball fell to Charlie Davis who shot just over the bar.

Play returned to a midfield tussle and the next chance did not arrive until the 59th minute.

Rory Williams went on a good run and his cross found Marley Ridge who shot wide. On 70 minutes the Row put together a good move involving a number of players. The eventual cross from the right found Steven Duff and the wingers shot was deflected off the goal line. A minute later Duff found Ty Smith coming in from the right and the midfielder’s parting shot went wide.

With Hartley switching to Game Management mode, Borough introduced former Hartley favourite Sam Argent and also Chris Flood who had a spell at Basingstoke Town. Both made an impact but the final shots from Gosport were from distance and usually off target.

On 83 minutes Flood set Williams in for a chance but the wing back shot wide. There was time for one final chance for Gosport when Robinson’s cross found Ridge who shot past the post.

A good solid performance by the entire Row team who performed their roles to perfection.

Much of the play was in midfield with newcomer Aaron Kuhl adding quality to the proceedings in a dour struggle for the most part.

After the win at Gosport Anthony Millerick said: "This was a very gritty performance. Our preparations have not been the best to the present stop-start period caused by the weather. Over the past weeks we have been working hard on our defence and it paid off today.

"I thought our back four were superb. Aaron Kuhl on his debut looked very composed and took up many good positions. We will be trying to do better with the ball when we are in possession. However overall a good result against a decent side."

On Tuesday night, Hartley are in action again away at Weston-super-Mare.