HARTLEY Wintney kicked off their league campaign with a narrow win over Guernsey.

It was the islanders who started the brighter and on two minutes Sam Murray on the right found Owen Wallbridge who saw his effort from 18 yards saved by a well positioned Henry Poole in the Row goal. 

On seven minutes Reece Wylie for Hartley found Lamar Koroma who saw his effort saved by Josh Addison in the Green Lions goal. Almost immediately a move down the right saw Ellis Orsborn move in and his fierce shot brought out a good save from Addison who tipped over.  The Row piled on the pressure and it was no surprise when the went ahead on 10 minutes. A cross from the right found Charlie Postance who chested the ball down before stroking the ball into the net past Addison (1-0).

Postance came close to adding a second when he combined well with Wylie and saw his lob go just wide of goal.

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Guernsey started to come into the game and came close on 24 minutes with a Murray effort.  The Green Lions continued to press and pulled level on 27 minutes.

Ross Allen gained possession on the right and his cross was headed home by Samuel Murray with Poole just unable to keep the ball from crossing the line (1-1).

On 33 minutes Alex Merrifield for Hartley combined with Britton who saw his effort go just wide. Three minutes later Jaques Cauvin for the visitors went on a run from midfield and saw his parting effort go just wide.

The second period opened with both sides striving to gain ascendancy in midfield. The first chance arrived on 50 minutes when a fine individual run from Aderi Dede from midfield saw him just thwarted as he closed in on goal.

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However the Row striker was not to be denied and he edged his team ahead on 58 minutes. A slick move through midfield by Hartley saw Wylie thread a perfect pass into the path of Aderi Dede who ran on and finished well (2-1).

A minute later the Green Lions had a chance and a shot from Simon Arnold was pushed around the post by Poole.

On 83 minutes Dede was again in action and saw a shot from distance go wide. The visitors pressed but without creating a chance.

In the final moments Guernsey substitute Zachary Gilman received a straight red card for a badly mistimed tackle.