The Metropolitan Police locked up the points at Hartley Wintney with a thoroughly deserved win as the Row failed to recapture their form at Leatherhead last Tuesday.
Hartley had the first chance on 15 minutes when Kayne Moyo combined with Alex Body and the latter brought out a good save from Liam Beach in the Met goal.
Two minutes later the Row went ahead when Body outmuscled the last defender before shooting past Beach at the near post (1-0).
The Met responded and came close on 21 minutes when Donnell Moore crossed to Guy Davies who set up Jethro Odumosu who shot just wide.
The visitors gained the initiative and on 33 minutes a long free kick into the Row penalty area found Davies who saw his shot pushed over the bar by Nick Jupp.
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The Met continued to press and pulled level on 34 minutes.
A corner on the right by Charlie Brown found the head of Davieswho nodded home (1-1).
Two minutes later the Row almost regained the lead when Sam Turner crossed from the right and Body was unlucky to see his shot deflected wide.
The Met gained an edge and on 41 minutes took the lead.
A corner on the left went into a forest of heads and it was the unfortunate Kanye Moyo who unluckily headed into his own goal (1-2).
Hartley started the second period brightly and on 47 minutes Moyo combined with Body who saw his near post shot parried by Beach.
From then the Met gained control of the match until the final whistle.
A mix up in the Hartley defence gave Jamal Sharpe a chance which he was just unable to convert on 49 minutes.
Sharpe was denied by Jupp on 62 minutes after he got behind the Hartley defence.
Eight minutes later Odumosu set up Davies who saw his effort go just wide.
The visitors continued to press and a shot from Sharpe coming in from the left was well saved by Jupp.
On 81 minutes a long free kick on the right found Tobi Ogundega who saw his header saved by Jupp.
Hartley had some promising situations but invariably the final cross or pass went astray.
The Met had the final chance when Davies received a pass from Dagiam Basaranoglu and brought out a good save from Jupp.
For Hartley it was rather like the day after the Lord Mayor's Show.
An excellent performance at Leatherhead followed by a very under par performance in this match.
The two strikers offer much and Alex Body did well to control some very difficult service played up to him.
Nick Jupp was solid in goal but definitely a match the Row will want quickly behind them.
Report by David Graham
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