Feltham 1 - 3 Hartley FC

Hartley travelled to Feltham FC, who came into the game off the back of a 10 game losing streak - against a strong Hartley side who were yet to lose a single league game.

Hartley began the brighter of the sides, camping in their half for the first ten, with a changed front three that saw Daniel Brownlie brought in on the right, Dean Peltohaka as the target man, and the increasingly impressive Ben Dillon on the left hand side.

Hartley saw a few chances go narrowly wide, before, against the run of play, the Feltham right back found himself with the ball at the edge of the box, after the ‘large' Feltham number 9 laid the ball off, and he duly buried the ball past the helpless Lee Allen.

A wake up call for Hartley, but the message from the bench was to continue playing how they were, and to continue playing the brand of football that has rightly earned Hartley their fantastic start to the season.  

Hartley had a couple of chances to pull back the deficit, and the breakthrough finally came when Nathan Stamp, who played at left back for the injured Newcombe, crossed the ball to the on running Dillon who calmly slotted the ball to the left of the keeper.

Hartley were back to playing their free flowing football, with the front three linking up well and the impressive debutant Ross Hogston creating space in the middle of the park. Jack Coventry was showing glimpses of the magic that has earned his promotion from the reserves side, and looked as though his confidence was beginning to build; and it was Jack who laid the ball to Stamp, in what effectively was a carbon copy of the first goal. Stamp crossed the ball, and in one motion Dillon controlled the ball and turned, leaving the bemused defender with a severe case of staple foot. Dillon took two touches and passed the ball into the back of the net.

The Feltham number 8 - I am well aware of his name, but don't even want to give him the air time he seemingly craves with such lunacy. The player wasn't having the best of games as he chased the shadows of the midfield 3 of Coventry, Lee & Hogston. However, I have heard of getting close to your opponents, but not close enough to sink your teeth into your opponents back. As the referee suggested, Michael Lee did well not to react even more so, unfortunately, his reaction did warrant a red card, of which the ref showed some regret displaying. According to reports - this player will never play for Feltham FC again; this could have been for lack of ability - or the incident itself.

Right, that's over.

Half Time:  1 -2

Hartley came out with great spirit and determination and had a reshuffle with the formation. Dean came into the centre of the park, and the hardworking Brownlie partnered the goalscorer Dillon as a front two. Hartley continued to apply pressure to a tiring Feltham side. The game was sealed when Luke Pearson (right back) slotted the ball into the path of hat-trick hunting Dillon, who with the outside of his foot punched the ball past the Feltham keeper.

The organised Hartley side made some changes, bringing on another debutant Foxy (Chris Fox) replacing Dean, and Dillon and Brownlie coming off for Ricky Hogsden & Ryan Stephens. It was great to see Ryan back playing, and it wasn't long before Ryan had the ball in the back of the net, only to be ruled offside.

Hartley finished the game winners and continued their impressive run. Hartley now travel to league leaders Guernsey FC. This will be a fantastic test for our boys who are only one of two teams to take points of the channel islands side.

Good luck lads.

Full time: 1 - 3

Team: Allen, Pearson, Stamp, Paterson, Bloxham, Lee, Hogston, Coventry, Brownlie, Dillon, Peltohaka.

Subs used: Fox, Hogsden, Stephens.