A strong second half performance enabled Hartley Wintney to recover from a goal down to collect maximum points against Poole Town.

Poole started well and missed a good chance to take the lead on five minutes. Jack Dickson made a good run down the right wing and his inch perfect cross found Will Spetch who shot over from close range. The Row came into the game and on 13 minutes a Josh Webb cross found Sam Argent who shot wide.

The Dolphins had a good spell shortly after and on 15 minutes a slick move down the left saw Sam Jackson’s cross fired over the crossbar by Spetch. Three minutes later Dickson got free down the right and his shot from a tight angle went across the face of the goal. On the half hour a rare mistake by Row keeper Luke Williams presented Spetch with a goal scoring opportunity. However the striker shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

On 37 minutes a free kick from Webb for the Row had the Dolphins defence scrambling to clear. A minute later Poole took a deserved lead. A long ball downfield found Will Spetch in the clear. The strikers shot lacked power. However Williams in the Row goal got his angles wrong and the ball went across him and despite getting a hand to the ball it trundled into the net. (0-1)

With manager Anthony Millerick missing due to illness, the half time pep talk was given by his assistant Steve Noakes and Neil Woodyer. It worked as the Row looked a different side in the second period.

However it was Poole who had the early pressure and on 52 minutes an effort from Spetch found its way across goal and Luke Pardoe headed over when well placed. The Dolphins came closer three minutes later when Pardoe created a chance for himself and was unlucky to see his effort crash off the crossbar.

Hartley were starting to get a greater share of play and dominated the remainder of the match. After a period of pressure on 57 minutes Webb had an effort from 20 yards which went wide. Two minutes later good hold up play from Dan Fitchett created a chance for Jordan Edwards who shot wide. On 68 minutes with Hartley pressing an accurate shot from Webb brought out a good save from Mark Childs in the Dolphins goal. Play continued in the direction of the Poole goal and the Row pulled level on 78 minutes. Hartley made good progress down the left wing and this enabled a cross from Harry Cooksley. The ball reached Dan Fitchett at the back post and he shot home from close range. (1-1)

Hartley had their tails up as the Dolphins seemed to fade and on 85 minutes a free kick from Cooksley found Edwards who was unlucky to see his effort go wide. However two minutes later on 88 minutes the Row took the lead. A free kick on the left by Webb was not fully cleared by Poole and Lucias Vine shot home with a powerful drive from the edge of the area which crashed into the net off the underside of the crossbar. (2-1). Lucias is the son of well known Basingstoke player Rowan Vine who was a professional footballer with Portsmouth, QPR and Birmingham City amongst the clubs he represented.

Into added time and Hartley almost added a third when a long ball found Cooksley behind the Dolphins defence. The midfielders parting shot went just wide.

The win boosts the Rows chances of avoiding relegation. It also continues a good record that Hartley Wintney have against Poole Town. They have won five out of the six meetings.