Hartley Wintney 1 Corinthian Casuals 1

Hartley Wintney extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a draw against relegation-haunted Corinthian Casuals.

After a quiet start the Row took the lead on 14 minutes. A precise pass from Reece Wylie set Isaac Ebejer free down the left and an accurate cross saw Mason Obeng score from 10 yards. (1-0)

Four minutes later George Wallace saw a cross spilled by Daniel O’Donovan in the Casuals goal and the keeper did well to block a Conor Lynch effort on the follow up.

The Row continued where they left off in the first half and had a great chance to increase the lead on 47 minutes.

Lynch sent an inch perfect pass into the path of IK Hill who shot badly wide when well placed.

Against the run of play Corinthian Casuals equalised on 55 minutes.

A long throw on the right was aimed at giant six-foot-seven-inch centre forward Melford Simpson and the Row were unable to get distance on the clearance.

The ball broke to Thibault Abie who struck a fierce shot from 25 yards which found the net. (1-1)

After 65 minutes Hill and Payce combined well and the final pass saw Lynch shoot home.

However the celebrations were cut short with the sight of an assistant referee’s flag for what must have been a very close offside call.

The Row pressed but found it difficult to break down a dogged Casuals defence. Hartley had a penalty claim on 69 minutes when Lynch was upended In the penalty area but referee McRitchie deemed the fall to be a dive. Two minutes later a Payce cross found Hill who shot wide when well placed.

On 80 minutes the Hartley task became even harder. Liam Gavin delivered a mistimed challenge and a yellow card was brandished quickly followed by a red with the Hartley centre half sent from the field of play. The red card was added to at least 9 yellow cards most for innocuous looking challenges in what was hardly a rough game.

Despite the man disadvantage it was the Row who finished the stronger but just could not get the vital breakthrough against the determined Casuals defence.