HARTLEY WINTNEY 2, FARNHAM TOWN 0

HARTLEY Wintney, red-hot favourites to retain the Combined Counties League title, had let a 2-0 lead slip away against Badshot Lea in their last outing.

But ‘The Row’ made no mistake against Farnham on Monday, securing their 22nd win out of 27 matches with a goal in each half.

The Wintney defence was back to its solid best and Farnham were restricted to a handful of half-chances.

Central midfielder Steve Laidler was highly influential for the leaders, while Dean Stow impressed both defensively and coming forward.

But although Hartley Wintney created plenty of chances, Aaron Holt was in superb form in the Town goal and it took two excellent efforts to beat the keeper.

Ian Jones put The Row in front after 30 minutes with a shot from the left that curled a course into the bottom corner.

Midway through the second half, Stow put the game to bed with a similar finish – a shot from distance that also found the corner of the net.

There should have been more goals for Fleet and Dean O’Halloran, in particular, will be wondering how he failed to find the back of the net.

But this was far from being a one-sided encounter and if Farnham had taken their best opening, straight after half-time, it could have been a different story.

Farnham are home to North Greenford this Saturday, while Hartley Wintney travel to Bedfont Sports.