Two-goal defeat for Hartley Wintney
DIRECTOR of football Anthony Millerick was pleased with Hartley Wintney’s efforts in their defeat to Southall on Saturday, but admitted the hosts deserved their three points.
Anthony O’Connor and Ryan Hope were on target for Southall as they secured a 2-0 Isthmian League South Central win.
“I felt we started brightly and could easily have been a few goals up,” Millerick said. “But Southall are a good side; they are well organised, solid and efficient.
“We missed a couple of our key players in particular Reece Wylie and George Winser. I felt the newer players coming in for us showed they are good technical players.
“Overall Southall deserved the win.”
A goal in each half from Southall was enough to enable them to consolidate their play-off position at the expense of Hartley Row. The match was played at Burnham where Southall are currently ground sharing.
Hartley started the better and had their best spell of the match in the first 15 minutes.
On seven minutes Conor Lynch, a loan signing from Winchester City, got on the end of a decent move from the Row and brought out a comfortable save from Michael Edegbe in the home side’s goal. Hartley continued to probe and on 13 minutes Marcio Neves sent Lynch beyond the Southall defence and the striker was inches wide with his shot.
The opening goal arrived on 14 minutes. A long ball forward found O’Connor behind the Hartley defence and getting the benefit of an offside call. The striker showed composure in shooting past Coulter. Hartley complained bitterly about the possible offside but the goal stood.
Towards half-time play became very fragmented.
As in the first period the Row started the second half well. On 51 minutes a decent move ended with Neves creating a chance for himself on the edge of the area and his parting shot was saved by Edegbe. Neither side was able to create a meaningful chance until the 60th minute when Southall scored a second goal.
The goal came as a result of the best move of the match. Hope started the move in midfield and after an exchange of passes through the Row defence Hope continued his run and shot home from just inside the penalty area.
Hartley Wintney host league leaders Raynes Park Vale on Saturday.