Hartley started well and soon had the visitors on the back foot with good movement and passing. However on 5 minutes a long ball from the visitors saw a mix up in the home defence with keeper and defenders colliding and the visitors forward put a difficult chance high and wide. The home side continued to be well on top with Simeon Howell and Keiron Thorne prominant. After sustained pressure it was the impressive SIMEON HOWELL who gave Hartley the lead on 10 minutes. A well worked move down the left saw good passing and the midfielder drove a low shot home from the edge of the box.

Hartley continued very much on top and but for some brave blocking by the Rovers defenders added to missed chances the lead could and should have been extended. Hartley were almost made to pay on the half hour when a through ball gave the Rovers striker a chance but Tom Lovett was out to make a smart save. However in the effort to block Jon Rimmer sustained a bad injury and was helped from the field.  The home side were soon back on the front foot and an accurate cross from Jack Smillie on the right was controlled and fired home by JERMAINE HAMILTON on 35 minutes.

Half Time: Hartley Wintney 2 Farleigh Rovers 0

The Rovers came out in determined fashion keen to extend their 100% record to date and put on a lot of pressure in the first 10 minutes of the second half. This pressure culminated with a fierce drive on 55 minutes being palmed round the post by Tom Lovett at full stretch to his right.

Hartley were soon back on top again and a series of corners yielded a number of half chances which were not converted. The visitors also blocked a number of goalbound efforts as the home side looked to extend their lead. On 70 minutes Hartley received a second bad injury when Ashton Robinson went down with a bad injury and had to be carried off on a stretcher. Within a few minutes the newly arrived substitute went on a good run down the right and his accurate cross was forced home at the second attempt by JERMAINE HAMILTON. A minute later it almost got better for Hartley as Jack Smillie was unlucky to see his effort crash off the crossbar.

With the match won Hartley dropped back and some passing became wayward. This allowed the visitors to apply late pressure in search of a consolation goal. However the final whictle arrived and Hartley had secured a well deserved  first league win of the season.

Full Time: Hartley Wintney 3 Farleigh Rovers 0

Drummie

An impressive performance especially in the first half with some good controlled football. Jermaine for MoM with hsi two goals but all round I was impressed with Simeon and Smiler and Keiron in the middle. Good all round performance and 3 welcome points. My sympathies to the boys with the injuries.

Excellent to read one of your reports on here David (drummie), especially as I'm still some way away and found it very informative. Keep 'em coming. Hopefully see you at the FA Cup tie next weekend.

Is this the Simeon Howell ex Basingstoke Town I remember from a few seasons back?

Anyway, good result lads, well done, sounds like it was the win you were due in the league. Big J, well done. Toasted the win with a large class of Italian red 

Hello Kevin,

Good to see that you are toasting Hartley with red wine; they deserve to be toasted this week. I thought they played really well and my notes of the match probably flattered Farleigh.

I thought they all played their part. Simeon Howell did play for 'stoke a few years back as of course did Nathan Stamp who was outstanding today. The only down side was the injuries which both looked nasty; both pure accidents.

Lets hope they can continue to improve and hopefully upset Whitehawks next week.

Drummie

Great report Drummie

Do you mind if we publish in programme?

Ta