HARTLEY Wintney moved away from the relegation area with a hard fought win over Hendon on Tuesday 12th October.
The win came with a goal from the Row’s prodigal son Mitch Parker four minutes from the end; courtesy of an error by the Dons goalie Fred Burbidge.
The Row started on the front foot and on 2 minutes Mitch Parker gave Kingsley Eshun a chance. The strikers well placed shot saw Fred Burbidge dive full length and push the ball around the post. However the opening goal was only delayed by another 4 minutes. Leo Hamblin made good progress down the left and his cross found Josh Webb who shot home from the edge of the penalty area (1-0).
Hartley had the ball in the net again a minute later when a Dons clearance hit a Row player and the ball went behind their defence. Parker latched on to the ball and shot home, However the Assistant referee adjudged him to be offside and the flag was raised. Hendon recorded their first effort on 7 minutes when a good flowing move saw Hamza Semaulka bring out a good diving save from Luke Williams in the Row goal. On 11 minutes Hartley could and probably should have added a second, Parker sent Jordan Edwards through for a one on one with Burbidge. The midfielders shot beat the keeper but crashed off the crossbar. Edwards was soon in action again when he got on the end of a good flowing Row move and watched as his parting shot went wide.
The Dons were not without their chances and a Liam Brooks effort brought out a good save from a well positioned Williams. The Row returned to the attack. A corner from Josh Webb saw the Dons struggle to clear and Matt Drage saw his close range effort bring out an amazing save from Burbidge. Hartley continued to press and thought they had scored after a huge melee in the Hendon 6 yard box. The ball first hit the crossbar and then the post in the scramble.
A minute later the Row had a scare when a short back pass ended with a Dons forward shooting across the face of the goal. On the half hour a slick move involving Eshun and Webb saw Sam Argent record an effort on target which brought out a good save by Burbidge. Approaching half time the Dons had a sustained period of pressure which ended when a dangerous Shaun Lucien cross took a deflection and brought another save from Williams.
HALF TIME: Hartley Wintney 1 Hendon 0
Hendon showed much more intent in the second period. On 52 minutes Hartley had a scare when a through ball saw the defence waiting for offside. However Brooks decided to run past the offside forwards and had a clear run in on goal. The Row were relieved when Jacques Kpohomouh managed to get back and put in a first class tackle which got the ball without tripping the Hendon forward.
The Dons looked the more likely to score in a very end to end game. Joe Budd had an effort off target on 55 minutes after a good right wing break involving Lucien and Tafari Moore. Hartley responded and two minutes later a Josh Webb corner saw Drage shoot wide from a difficult angle.
Hendon were having more of the play and on 69 minutes a shot from Wilson Carvalho again tested Williams in the Row goal. The visitors pulled level on 74 minutes. A fast break down the right saw an accurate cross which was headed in at the near post by Joe White (1-1).
On 82 minutes a Reece Wylie cross found Parker who headed wide. However the striker was not to be denied. On 87 minutes a spell of Hendon pressure ended with a long hopeful punt upfield by the Row defence. It caught Burbidge in two minds whether to kick or allow the ball to enter the penalty area. He chose the latter and Mitch Parker who had chased the ball down gained possession and scored into an unguarded net (2-1).
Hendon had a good chance to equalise on 88 minutes. A long free kick from the right found Christian Smith unmarked. However the defender directed his header over the crossbar.
FULL TIME: Hartley Wintney 2 Hendon 1
