Millerick pleased with ‘excellent’ win for Row
HARTLEY WINTNEY PROVE TO BE NIGHT-MARE VISITORS
HARTLEY Wintney produced their best performance of the season so far and claimed a “deserved” first away win of the season at Westonsuper-Mare.
Both sides created chances early on, but after 10 minutes the Row took the lead. Leo Hamblin, on loan from Woking, slipped a pass to Ben Wright who, with space, fired home an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.
On 29 minutes the Row should have extended their lead. Jordan Edwards struck a powerful shot goalwards from 25 yards which Kie Plumley did well to parry, and the ball fell straight into the path of Sam Argent who could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper.
Weston started piling on the pressure in the latter stages of the first half, and that pressure was finally rewarded. A corner on the left wing was delivered by Dayle Grubb and Scott Laird appeared at the near post to equalise.
Hartley started the second half well as Argent created an opening for himself and his goalbound shot from the edge of the box forced Plumley to push the ball around the post.
A long ball down field from the Seagulls saw some uncertainty in the Row defence and Matt Drage used his full height to produce a good headed clearance off the line.
A minute later the Row managed to get a pass upfield to Khalid Simmo. The substitute showed good pace after running from his own half, he drew Plumley out and slipped the ball to the supporting Josh Webb, who stroked the ball into the empty net.
The Row made the game safe on 85 minutes with a contender for goal of the season.
Reece Wylie picked up the ball on the halfway line and ran at the Seagulls defence.
He evaded and side-stepped a number of tackles before entering the penalty area and firing an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net to seal the win.
Hartley manager Anthony Millerick said: “I felt it was an excellent win against a good and well-fancied team.
“They had beaten Taunton Town 5-1 last week in the FA Cup.
“We did have to ride our luck a bit at times and soak up pressure. However we carried a real threat today and scored three good goals.
“We were clinical at both ends of the park.
“The players deserve this win for the way they have applied themselves. They needed a bit of luck and things to go their way.”